ALEX FERGUSON has reminded his senior players they are all under threat, with Alexander Buttner’s signing from Vitesse Arnhem providing competition for Patrice Evra as the manager looks to “protect the future”.

Asked if it was important to maintain pressure on established stars, Ferguson said: “That’s sensible. Evra has been an absolute soldier. Nobody has played more games than him over the last five years. He has played with injuries. He has guts. He has been up and down that touchline for five years. But he’s 31 and we have to protect the future.”

Of the 23-year-old Buttner, whose signing caused some surprise in his native Netherlands, Ferguson said: “We’ve been monitoring him for a while. He’s a straightforward attacking, quick full back, he will be a terrific addition to us.

“Evra for the last five years has played an average of 48 games a season. It’s an incredible statistic and Alex comes now to challenge that position. Patrice is in his 30s and, although he is a fit lad, it gives us a good challenge in that position. Buttner will be involved [against Fulham today].”

Ferguson has so far bought Buttner, Nick Powell, Shinji Kagawa, Robin van Persie and Angelo Henriquez this summer. “I definitely won’t be buying anyone else, that’s for sure,” he said.

Andres Fassi, the Pachuca sporting director, claimed that there had been an “official inquiry” for their midfielder Hector Herrera. “I don’t know where that came from,” Ferguson said. “Nothing’s happening.”