Moyes Denies Coentrao Deal

Manchester United boss David Moyes has denied claims the club are on the brink of signing Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao.

Reports from the continent have suggested that terms have been agreed to transfer the 25-year-old Portugal international to Old Trafford.

But speaking after Tuesday night's 2-1 Capital One Cup semi-final first-leg defeat at Sunderland, Moyes denied such speculation.

"No, that's not true," he insisted.

Moyes has already been given assurances that significant funds are available to him for this month and the summer transfer window.

However, the United boss has admitted that players he would like to bring in might not be available in January as he seeks to strengthen a squad which has now lost three games on the bounce, their worst run since May 2001.

"We would like to bring people in but are those players available?" Moyes asked after his club's FA Cup defeat to Swansea on Sunday.

"There is an urgency but there's no point in me hyping it up because the players we would like to bring in are probably not available in January."