MANCHESTER UNITED boss Alex Ferguson has already identified £40million of new talent to help sustain his stranglehold on the Premier League.

The Reds are on the verge of retaining their title but they have to win their remaining two matches.

I will now reveal the names of the four young stars that Fergie has his eyes on ahead of next season.

Portugal and Sporting Lisbon stars Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho are top of the shopping list.

And Ferguson is also targeting Wigan aces Wilson Palacios and Luis Antonio Valencia.

Old Trafford No 2 Carlos Queiroz has been on scouting missions over the last few weeks to run the rule over all four players.

Last summer Ferguson had finished his transfer business almost as soon as the team secured the title and this year looks to be no different.

It was revealed in October that Fergie was interested in midfielders Veloso and Moutinho. Both players will be part of Portugals Euro 2008 squad.

Moutinho, 21, has 11 caps for Portugal and his quick-footed, artistic style is perfectly suited to United.

Veloso, also 21, is a more defensive midfielder who can also play as a centre-half or as a full-back. He has five Portugal caps to his name.

United have a terrific relationship with Sporting Lisbon and bought current stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani from the Portuguese side.

Queiroz watched the Sporting players in their Uefa Cup defeat to Rangers last week.

And it is believed that United have first refusal on the young stars but the champions-elect know they will need to shell out around £30m for the pair.

Before his trip to Lisbon Queiroz watched Wigans game with Birmingham where £6m-rated midfielder Palacios, 23, and £4m winger Valencia, 22, starred in a 2-0 win.

Palacios has been a key figure in Wigans relegation battle since his January switch from Honduran side Olimpia.

Wigan boss Steve Bruce also signed Palacios on loan when he was the manager of Birmingham earlier this season.

Valencia moved to Wigan after impressing for Ecuador in the 2006 World Cup.

Last season United forked out £80m for Anderson, Nani, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez.

But this year Ferguson wants to improve the depth of his squad and will give the new youngsters time to make their mark at Old Trafford.

While midfielder Anderson has made a big impact in the Premier League and in Europe this season, winger Nani has been used more sparingly.

Ferguson knows his starting team is as strong as he could hope for and it would be difficult to improve.

So now he is eyeing long-term replacements for veterans Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Nani is seen by many as the long-term successor to Giggs and Moutinho is considered a perfect replacement for Scholes.