Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has told Manchester City: The future belongs to us!

While Ferguson expects City to splash the cash again in the summer - and also predicts improvements from Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs - he believes United are on the ­threshold of ­another period of Premier League domination.

"The one thing we have shown this year is that we are not going to go away," said the United boss.

"Our record over the last 20 years tells you that and, with the youth we have in the squad, I would ­expect us to have a real good challenge next year as well.

"Whether we can go on ­another run of three titles in a row, who's to say? But the one thing I do know is that material is there for us to do that.

"With the squad of players we've got, there is maybe 14 players who are aged 23 or under who could play together for another seven or eight years.

"We've also got improving players. The likes of Shinji ­Kagawa will be much better next year, and we've got Rafael, David De Gea, Alex Buttner, and Phil Jones who can do anything he wants to.

"Obviously we have to deal with the fact that one or two players are getting older, it looks good in terms of ­protecting most positions."