Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed he is ready to open his chequebook next summer and add to his Red Devils squad.
The recent transfer window closed with the only addition to Manchester United's squad being Denmark goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard, whose move from Norwegian outfit Aalesund had been completed a few weeks earlier.
But Ferguson has revealed he made an additional move that ultimately did not come off.
And whilst he is not specifying who his target was, or what position they occupy on the field, it appears the deal has only been delayed rather than abandoned.
"Billionaire owners have introduced a new world that is turning football on its head," Ferguson told United Review.
"For our part, we cannot afford to sit in an ivory tower. We have to face the challenge.
"It is a healthy competition and it goes without saying that we will not shirk it and I don't think we are doing so.
"Although I let the transfer window shut without signing a new player, that is because we did our homework some time ago and didn't have to rush into any emergency buying.
"We had an interest in one player, and I thought we had a chance of bringing him in, but the other parties involved weren't ready and so we have put it away until the summer."
