I don't think Ferguson is just a chequebook manager but Man Utd have used their financial muscle as much if not more than anyone else.
Ferdinand, Veron, Berbatov, Rooney, Anderson, Van Nistelrooy, Carrick, Nani and Hargreaves are all in the top 30 prices ever paid by an English club.
They've been happily paying top dollar ever since I can remember.