Manchester United Transfers: Sir Alex, David Moyes, What Is Happening Please?

Like most of you, I am a dyed in the wool Manchester United fan. Right now, I don't know whether to be angry or just embarrassed because of what is happening to my club—or to be more precise, what is not happening.

Do the Glazers and new chief executive Ed Woodward think we are all stupid?

Haven't most of us been suspecting for the last interminable month or more that we are being conned?

If there was a chance of signing Thiago Alcantara it was blown out of the water by apparent incompetence. United seemed to be leaning all over the player to exercise his release clause while Pep Guardiola nipped in with a proper bid at £22 million and stole him from under United's noses.

Or did they? While we all believed that Thiago was a mere whisker away from signing, the player himself said that United never approached him, according to Martyn Ziegler of the Belfast Telegraph.

Cesc Fabregas: A Very Public Pursuit

Sir Alex Ferguson would have never publicly pursued a player like United have been after Cesc Fabregas. Now that it seems clear (surprise, surprise) that he was never coming to Old Trafford, everyone at United looks very stupid.

We the fans are very angry because it has been clear all along that this was unlikely to happen.

What David Moyes has to do urgently is to distance himself from Woodward's feeble and naive attempts to sign the former Arsenal player. He must say something like, "We left that to the chief executive, but it seems it was not to be..."

Why?

Because we still believe in Moyes, and we can all see that it is not his fault that United have utterly failed in the single most important task of the last 12 years—to sign a world-class midfielder.

And yes, that does by implication point the finger at Sir Alex. He may have left Moyes with the best squad in depth and up-and-coming youngsters of any team in the Premier League, but he's also left a complete muddle in midfield.

Wayne Rooney: Another Public Embarrassment?

Sir Alex left Moyes another "poison chalice" when he announced that Rooney had asked for a transfer.

While we the fans may not care if Rooney stays or goes, we have had to put up with daily headlines about him for the last month or more, while at the same time, there has not been the remotest chance of United signing any top players.

Sir Alex may not have realised the consequences of his pronouncement, but he and David Gill would have surely handled things far better than the ham-fisted farce that is currently going on.

Of course, the media is going to come up with endless suggestions about who United are going to sign, many of which will be complete rubbish.

But in the case of Fabregas, Moyes himself has regularly acknowledged the bids, and as a result, he cannot detach himself from the accelerating disbelief and ultimate ridicule that will now cascade on United.

Sadly, if Marouane Fellaini is the consequence, he will simply look like a feeble consolation prize or a transparent plan that was intended all along.

We want to give Moyes the benefit of the doubt, but right now, United look stunningly incompetent in a transfer market where Manchester City have already spent almost £90 million signing four credible players; where they and Chelsea look far more likely to win the EPL next year and even Spurs have spent £45 million before potentially selling Gareth Bale.

So Who, If Anyone, is Coming?

Right now, if you were a betting man, the smart money would be on nobody arriving before the start of the season.

Weeks ago we were told Ezequiel Garay was a "done deal," via Marca. 

Weeks ago United had a £12 million bid for Leighton Baines rejected, via Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star. 

The latest story is that Cristiano Ronaldo is returning, as per Charles Perrin of The Express. 

But the story that won't go away is that Rooney is leaving. The player isn't denying it, and no matter how much Moyes denies it, the greatest likelihood right now is that by the time United play Swansea, Rooney will be on his way and Carrick and Cleverley will be the starting midfield pair.

Shambolic.

Nearly two years ago, we wrote about the "rot" that was developing at the heart of United.

We have extolled the virtue of the Glazers leaving Ferguson and Gill to run the club unhindered. But now they have both gone, and frankly, it looks like the bright manager that has been appointed is being taken for a mug.

So What Has to Happen?

Within 10 days at most, United must sign a proven midfield player of international standing—not a defender or a winger (even if they do come).

Nothing less will do.

Because the players aren't stupid either. They read the press like we do. They will have been expecting Fabregas, or Luka Modric or somebody of equal standing to arrive.

If nobody comes before the start of the season, United could realistically be staring five straight defeats in the face and a fans revolt. (Beating Wigan in the charity shield will convince no one).

The unfair scapegoat will be Moyes, because the power has shifted.

When Sir Alex and Gill prevailed, they called the shots and took the flak. Now that Moyes is just the "first-team coach," it is Woodward and the Glazers that are the real culprits if United fail.

Moyes may be comforted that Sir Alex is "upstairs," but he is recovering from a hip replacement, and the Rooney legacy that he created is rumbling on.

The only way to resolve this?

United must now deliver at least two "marquee" signings, such as Ronaldo and Modric, otherwise they will not only look stupid but will also be battling for third and fourth place this season—alongside Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool—while Chelsea or City prevail.

And in the Champions League? No chance.

We believe in Moyes and his potential to mould talent, experience and youth into the next successful United dynasty, but never more has he been needed to be his own man.

He must distance himself from the utter failure in the transfer market—and with Sir Alex's support—take control of the process himself. Otherwise, he may already be staring oblivion in the face.