Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United have already spent big in this preseason transfer window, halting any suggestion that the Glazer family have a tight hold of the purse strings at Old Trafford.
With the arrival of defender Phil Jones and winger Ashley Young, Ferguson has set out his stall, and the other premiership teams had better take heed: Manchester United have and are going to spend big to further strengthen a squad that last year were crowned champions of England.
Formidable is a word that comes to mind when contemplating Manchester United and their manager.
Certainly, with further additions to the squad in the coming weeks likely, United will go from strong to stronger.
Rumours of Ferguson retiring that surfaced at the end of last season lasted as long as an ice cube in hell. Sir Alex is staying, and to other teams in the hunt for the English Premiership title, that spells trouble.
Moreover, Europe's top clubs beware: United will be back next season with a manager hungry for the Champions League trophy and a stronger squad with which to win it.
Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sunderland are closing in on their man, with chairman Niall Quinn stating he is hopeful that the deal can be wrapped up soon.
O'Shea who has played 416 times for United, has been their utility player in all the time he has been at Old Trafford. That ironically could have been his downfall. Never able to hold down a permanent place at any one given position, O'Shea was a 'jack-of-all-trades'.
Being able to play anywhere in the back four as well as anywhere in midfield, meant that O'Shea could fit into any position comfortably and do well there. But he was never is one position long enough to truly be considered good enough to call that position his own.
That said, manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be losing a player that he has relied on to be able to come in and do a job for him.
But it is regular first team football that O'Shea craves, and at Sunderland he may well be able to cement himself long enough in a particular position to get it.
O'Shea bring a wealth of experience with him, domestically and internationally, having played for the Republic of Ireland 70 times.
Last season, the Republic of Ireland international made 32 appearances in all competitions for United, with 20 of those coming in the Premier League.
With five English Premier League winners' medals around his neck, O'Shea will bring a winning mentality into the Black Cats dressing room and an air of defensive confidence and stability. Never the most spectacular, the Irishman is reliable, steady and a consistent performer.
Certainly, any move will come with a commitment from Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, that O'Shea will see guaranteed first team action, as the lack of this, is most likely what prompted a move on his part.
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Paolo Bruno/Getty Images Reports on their website, stated that Manchester United have gotten the go ahead to make a bid for the attacking goal scoring midfielder, from his current club Inter Milan.
In the past, Inter have suggested that Sneijder would not be moving this summer and that the player was not for sale. Certainly, since the departure of previous manager Jose Mourinho, the player has expressed his desire to move away from Inter, then later his commitment.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is in the market for a creative, attacking and scoring central midfielder, as he has lost the talent of the long serving Paul Scholes, who retired at the end of last season.
United, bereft of goals from central midfield in recent times, will be keen to have the signature of Sneijder, who arguably is the best player in this position in the world at the moment.
The Dutch playmaker has exception abilities with both feet and a rocket shot off both too. This makes Sneijder a weapon from set pieces and free kicks.
Having played in the World Cup final for Holland and in that historic treble winning Inter team, the 27 year old Dutchman is vastly experienced. Maybe more critical of all for Ferguson, would be the Champions League winners' medal that Sneijder possesses.
The United manager is desperate to regain the Champions League trophy that he has come so close to holding again, and to gain a player with the experience of having won it recently, would certainly be on Ferguson's wish list.
United seem to be in pole position for Sneijder's signature, but Chelsea will also be in the mix and able to offer the player all that United can, as well as the glamorous lifestyle that London has to offer.
But the signs are, that it may not be too long before Manchester United strengthen an already formidable squad, that won the title last year, with the world class talents of Wesley Sneijder.
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