Manchester United Transfer Rumours: David Moyes Will Regret Failure to Sign Trio

Manchester United coughed up £27.5 million for Marouane Fellaini during the transfer window, but Henry Winter of the Daily Telegraph reports the champions turned down three world-class names.

According to Winter, David Moyes snubbed the chance to sign Willian, now of Chelsea; Mesut Ozil, the new darling of Arsenal; and Ander Herrera, who's good but apparently not good enough:

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This summer, United turned down well-known attacking midfielders who have ended up at English clubs. The champions were offered Willian, the Anzhi Makhachkala player who ended up at Chelsea but apparently was keen to join United.

Four weeks ago, United were also offered Mesut Ozil for substantially less than the £42.4 million for which he eventually went to Arsenal on transfer deadline day. United liked Ozil but declined the chance to pursue him because of belief in (Wayne) Rooney as their tempo-setting No. 10. They also consider Shinji Kagawa an option as a creative force behind Robin van Persie...

Having decided that £30.5 million was above their valuation of Herrera, United ended all interest in the player on Sunday… “The fee was too much,’’ a United source said. “He’s a very good player but not a top, top player.”

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Winter listed three players, all of whom would have brought to United a degree of imagination and intelligence that is currently fading from their ranks.

Paul Scholes has retired, while Ryan Giggs showed signs against Liverpool that this will be the year his increasing years get the better of him.

Fellaini will make United stronger and more combative in midfield, particularly when compared to a player like Tom Cleverley. However, he will rarely play a defence-splitting pass, registering only five league assists last season.

The claim of the United source that Herrera is “a very good player, but not a top, top player” should alarm the club’s fans.

The Spaniard is better than anything Moyes has in his midfield, and that includes Michael Carrick. He defends better, links defence to attack equally as well as the England man and is able to glide past players—something Carrick does not have in his locker.

Henry elaborates on the reason why United snubbed Ozil:

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The feeling within Carrington was that they had a No. 10 in Rooney. Moyes, (chief executive Ed) Woodward and others at the club had worked hard to ensure Rooney stayed, partly because they rate him highly and also because they did not want him ­leaving to strengthen rivals like Chelsea.

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Again, these are alarming revelations. When it comes to genuine No. 10s, Ozil is one of the top creators in Europe.

Cesc Fabregas labelled him the “second-best player at Real Madrid”, while Jose Mourinho went even further, according to Massimo Marioni of the Metro: “Ozil is unique. There is no copy of him, not even a bad one. He is the best No. 10 in the world.”

Rooney and Kagawa are fine players, capable of filling the role, but neither moves a ball around the edge of the penalty area like Ozil. The recent 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea saw United crying out for such a player.

Willian, who is capable of playing wide or through the centre, would have given Moyes preferential options to Ashley Young, Nani or even Antonio Valencia, a trio who failed to influence the recent 1-0 loss to Liverpool.

Winter claims United are giving Moyes time to assess his squad and establish genuine transfer targets, which is a fair and considered approach.

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It is understood Manchester United did not want to be rushed into the wrong signings, or what they considered overpriced signings like Ander ­Herrera. They expect to be busier in the next two windows, not necessarily January, but certainly next summer.

(Moyes) will be given “patience and money” to build his squad, according to a United source. The champions are actively scouting a left-back, a high-class centre-back and a central midfielder.

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Certainly United will be expected to be more prolific in transfer windows to come, but the club’s patience threatens to come at the cost of their league title.

Five points have already been dropped in three games this season, but more concerning is the revelation that their manager has closed his door to three huge talents, all of whom would have been in United's starting XI.