Plans are being made for the presentation of the Barclays Premier League trophy at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon and for an open-top bus parade with the European Cup in a fortnight, but, if it sounds as if Manchester United are getting ahead of themselves, it is simply a case of planning ahead as they look to bring the first coronation nearer with victory away to Wigan Athletic this evening.

The only flies in the ointment at present are Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Real Madrid believe they have a pre-contract agreement to sign on July 1, and Carlos Tévez, who has made clear that he will leave the club when his two-year lease arrangement expires next month, but Sir Alex Ferguson is concerned only with adding to their trophy collection. Beating Wigan at the JJB Stadium tonight will bring another title within touching distance for United, who could then secure the trophy on home territory by drawing against Arsenal on Saturday.

A third consecutive league title would equal Liverpool’s long-standing record of 18 championships and leave United confident of overtaking their Merseyside rivals next season. It is Liverpool who have pushed Ferguson’s team hardest this season, but Rio Ferdinand pointed yesterday to his team’s success in emerging from the shadow of the Arsenal “Invincibles” of 2004 and Chelsea’s title-winning sides of 2005 and 2006 as central to what he believes is a new era of domination.

“I never once thought this might not happen again or that it was the end of an era,” Ferdinand said. “You just have to trust the manager. He has been so successful, so not to have trusted him would have been crazy. The players stood by everything he has done. Four seasons ago everyone was saying we were finished and that we were a spent force. I remember people booing Ryan Giggs. That is how mad it was. But the manager calmed us down, told us to take our time and trust him.

“He assured us it was a transitional period. The results since have proved that. We have not won anything yet, but we are in a great position to do so.”

Ferdinand is unsure whether he will be risked against Wigan this evening, having missed the 2-0 victory over Manchester City on Sunday with a calf injury. Jonny Evans, his deputy, is also carrying an injury, but Ferguson is expected to play one of them at the JJB Stadium, with Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney also likely to return to the starting line-up, the latter at the expense of Tévez.

Real still hope to sign the Argentina forward, while AC Milan have joined Inter Milan in registering an interest, but Tévez is giving serious consideration to staying in England and joining Liverpool or Manchester City, which would allow him to remain in the North West, or Chelsea. United are powerless to prevent his departure and will not receive a penny for his transfer, since his registration is owned by a series of investors.

Kia Joorabchian, the front man for those investors, said last night: “What Carlos wants to do is to go to a club which has real ambition, a real focus, to be champions of England, champions of Europe, champions of everywhere.

“Obviously, leaving United he would have to go to a rival in order to achieve that target. I don’t want to direct, saying it’s going to be Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham — whoever you can pick out — Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus.

“The key is that at the moment Carlos is a United player and he’s focused on being a United player for the rest of the season.”

The same will be said of Ronaldo, who has expressed his desire to stay at United despite his petulant reaction to being substituted by Ferguson on Sunday, but concerns about his future remain. El País, the Spanish newspaper, reported yesterday that Real agreed separate contracts last summer, including a confidentiality agreement, with United and Ronaldo over a £71.5 million transfer. United officials said that they would not dignify such reports with a response, but their silence — and Ferguson’s increasingly vague responses — has done little to dampen the speculation.

Wigan Athletic (possible; 4-4-2): R Kingson — M Melchiot, T Bramble, P Scharner, M Figueroa — A Valencia, L Cattermole, M Brown, C N’Zogbia — Mido, H Rodallega.

Manchester United (possible; 4-4-2): E van der Sar — J O’Shea, R Ferdinand (or J Evans), N Vidic, P Evra — Park Ji Sung, M Carrick, P Scholes, C Ronaldo — D Berbatov, W Rooney.

Television: Live Sky Sports 1 from 7.30pm (kick-off 8pm)