With all due respect to the great man we can ignore Alex Ferguson’s statement that ‘tranfer business is done’ at Old Trafford for the summer. Within five days of that announcement we had purchased Mame Biram Diouf from Molde and you can expect a few more below-the-radar acquisitions before the transfer window slams shut.

This has become a bit of a trick of Fergie’s over the last few years, to say we are not going to be buying anyone else, and then buying someone else. It is a nice idea though, certainly nobody saw the transfers of Nani or Anderson coming.

Our rivals, on the other hand, are conducting business with all the subtlety of a herd of buffalo in a small family-run china shop. I don’t, in all honesty, expect any gigantic signings to arrive at OT in the next month, but this is as good a time as any to run the rule over our rival’s squads:

Chelsea:

Ancelotti has won all of the big trophies with Milan but has performed poorly in the league. He freely admits that his job brief is to get the team to the pinnacle of Europe so you can expect that to be their priority again this year.

Chelsea are creaking though, they are still basically operating as the side Mourinho put together a few years ago and they ain’t getting any younger. If you ask me, their major problem is still the player power in the dressing room. Their smartest move would be to get rid of John Terry , crush the ego culture, and start building a team ethic. Won’t happen though. They will still be strong and determined, and will no doubt completely lack class when things go against them.

Threat: Pretty strong, if Ancelotti can get them churning out results they will finish in the top two again.

Liverpool:

Liverpool were mighty close to the summit last year but I have the feeling it was sheer force of will that got them so close. Their squad is nowhere near as strong as United’s and that will count against them over the course of a gruelling 38 game season. Certainly though, their starting eleven is as good as any in world football. They are capable of winning any of the major showdown games, provided Gerrard and Torress are fit, to keep things interesting. They are also bloody determined to win the league again.

Much will depend on whether or Xabi Alonso moves to Real Madrid, he is a key part of their midfield and there will be no Gareth Barry in white shining armour coming to the rescue now. Benitez is getting better at managing in this league every year and, should he finally start getting his team selections consistently right, Liverpool could be a big problem.

Threat: Major, will be spurred on by last year’s near miss and even more determined than usual.