Manchester United Transfer News Friday 6 September

 

Woodward Admits To Disappointing Transfer Market

Manchester United vice-chairman Ed Woodward has privately conceded that only signing Marouane Fellaini since David Moyes took over represents a failure in the transfer market.



The United supremo endured a baptism of fire in what was his first transfer window since taking over the helm from David Gill this summer. Bids for Thiago Alcantara, Ander Herrera, Cesc Fabregas and Leighton Baines all ended in failure with Alcantara moving to Bayern Munich and Herrera, Fabregas and Baines remaining with Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona and Everton respectively. This was after it was being widely claimed that the club’s ruling Glazer family were prepared to spend big this summer.

There have also been reports that United made bids for Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira and Galatasaray’s Wesley Sneijder – both of which also failed – in what turned out to br a summer of frustration for Woodward and new boss Moyes. However, Woodward feels that hanging on to Wayne Rooney in the face of bids from both Chelsea and Arsenal in itself represented a success for United.

Arsenal also suffered frustrations in the transfer market. Only the deadline-day signing of Mesut Ozil managed to mask what had been a disappointing transfer window for the Gunners. While Liverpool managed to bolster their squad it wasn’t with recognised top-quality players. Spurs and Manchester City both spent big in what appears to have been a coherent transfer strategy by both clubs.

However, Moyes was at pains to point out over the summer that, notwithstanding any additions, the squad he inherited was one that was strong enough to win the Premier League at a canter last season.

It’s just that United fans have seen their rivals spend big in a bid to cut the gap while the signing of Marouane Fellaini was rather less than they had hoped for.

Manchester United forward Adnan Januzaj is wanted on loan by Championship side Blackburn Rovers. The 18-year-old took his chance to impress during the club’s pre-season games and could be sent out on loan to gain some first-team experience.

Rovers have taken a number of United starlets on loan in the past and are looking for the young Belgian forward to link up with Jordan Rhodes.