Man United have just signed Blackburn defender Phil Jones for £16million.
That will most likely see the departure of Darron Gibson and Wes Brown to Sunderland for a combined £7million.
John O'Shea may also join them at the Stadium of Light.
Utd did not expect to have to pay full wack for Jones but their hand was forced by the late intervention of Liverpool.
Jones and Smalling is the preferred centre-back pairing of the future for Fergie - and that could also mean Jonny Evans leaving the club. He has not progressed as expected over the last 12 months.
About Me
- Frank Worrall
- is a Fleet Street journalist who has written regularly for The Sunday Times, The Sun, The Mail on Sunday, FourFourTwo magazine, Melody Maker/NME and many other newspapers and magazines. The subjects of his critically-acclaimed books include Gareth Bale, Roy Keane, Lewis Hamilton, Alex Ferguson and Rory McIlroy.