Moyes: Money To Spend

David Moyes says Manchester United are prepared to spend big and were "very close" to landing a major signing last summer.

With the January transfer window opening in just over two weeks, the Reds boss insists he has money to spend should the right targets become available.

“We have got the money and the club will spend," he told reporters from the Sunday newspapers at the Aon Training Complex. "There is no question about that.

“We were close to a couple of really major signings [in the summer] but, in the end, we didn’t quite get there. Players have chosen other clubs or made their decisions [to stay] elsewhere.”

The Reds were rumoured to be interested in several players around Europe but ended the summer transfer window with only one major signing as Marouane Fellaini came in to bolster the first-team squad.

Among those linked consistently with a summer move to Manchester were Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera, while occasional reports also raised the possibility of an Old Trafford return for Cristiano Ronaldo or a hijack of Real Madrid’s swoop for Gareth Bale.

Moyes didn't reveal the identity of the star player he says almost joined United but insists the move would have made big headlines.

"We were very close to a major, major signing,” he said. “It’s easy to say now, ‘Well, you didn’t do it’ but we were very close to a major signing when the club would have definitely shown what its worth is."

When asked if he would resurrect a bid for the same target in January, Moyes said: “Not that particular player. I would be very, very surprised if it was [to happen] next summer, either.”

Moyes has indicated he will look to add to his squad in January and maintains he’s not looking for short-term fixes. Any new arrivals, he says, would be long-term prospects.

“I want players going forward and not just for the next six months. If I can get someone to be with us for the next six or seven years I want to bring them in as soon as I can.

“But a lot of [potential targets] may well be at clubs in the Champions League or at clubs who are not willing to sell because they may be in a good league position at this moment in time."