Manchester United chief executive David Gill insists the club have funds to challenge for the title next season and that Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to strengthen his side after missing out on the Premier League crown to Manchester City.
The comments come on the foot of the news that veteran Paul Scholes has agreed another one year contract extension and will continue alongside another club stalwart, Ryan Gigg, in the squad.
But Ferguson has also been linked with some more youthful options in recent weeks, with a visit at the weekend to see Borussia Dortmund duo Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski.
But he says he will spend wisely after claiming City "pay stupid money and silly salaries".
Ferguson also has Eden Hazard on his radar after watching the Lille midfielder on several occasions although City are also ready to move for the £30m-rated talent.
Kagawa is a 23-year-old playmaker whose 13 goals in 29 games helped Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga title. Kagawa was a bargain when he joined from J-League side Cerezo Osaka for just 35,000 euros in 2010.
"We know City are going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and silly salaries," said the United manager.
"We know that happens. We can't do anything about that.
"We are not like other clubs who can spend fortunes on proven goods. We invest in players who will be with the club for a long time, who will create the character of the club and the excitement for our fans.
"We are good at that and we are going to continue that way."
Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan were in Berlin last Saturday to watch Japan midfielder Kagawa and Poland striker Lewandowski help Dortmund hammer Bayern Munich 5-2 in the German Cup final.
“Funds are available without a doubt. We can still pay very well in terms of wages and transfer fees. Clearly City have raised the bar.”David Gill
Gill said United have the finances to compete in the transfer market this summer as the club look to bounce back from missing out on a record 20th title on goal difference to City.
"Funds are available without a doubt," said Gill, who was speaking at the club's player of the year awards night on Monday.
"We can still pay very well in terms of wages and transfer fees.
"Clearly City have raised the bar. We have seen that with what they are prepared to pay for players and to them.
"But we need to move on. Financial Fair Play is just around the corner.
"It is a flagship programme for [Uefa president] Michel Platini and how that is implemented and the sanctions that are imposed are going to be interesting."
The words come in the wake of the news that Manchester United's cash reserves have been halved in three months, the cost of exiting Europe early, wage increases and Old Trafford's redevelopment.
Quarterly accounts show they dropped from $80 million at the end of 2011 to $41 million by March 31. The figure had stood at $238 million at the end of 2010.
However United remains English soccer's biggest moneymaker, with commercial revenue rising 15 percent to $43.4 million year-on-year. Wages rose 9 percent year-on-year to $178 million.
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