Yesterday, David Moyes announced that United might not sign anyone in the remaining nine days between now and September 2, a news that wouldn’t have surprised many United fans, considering the way the club has conducted its business throughout the summer.
Today, however, some of the back pages suggest that United might indeed land a signing this summer, as they prepare a bid for Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil, whose time on the pitch at the Bernabeu has been limited after the arrival of Isco and could shrink even further if Real Madrid are to complete the signing of Gareth Bale.
Ozil was heavily linked with United in the summer of 2010, when he stole the show at the World Cup in South Africa but despite United’s attempts, the German international decided to move to Madrid instead.
However, with Bale due to complete his move to Bernabeu soon, Real are keen to recoup part of the staggering fee that will be poured into Spurs’ coffers and are thought to be open to sell the 24-year-old, for whom regular football must be a priority in a World Cup year, particularly considering the number of talented midfielders in the German national side.
United are thought to be willing to offer around £30m for Ozil, but David Moyes knows that he must add steel as well as flair to his midfield and could return to Everton with an improved offer for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines.
In truth, Moyes hasn’t made negotiations with his former club any easier as he claimed that Everton could be ruining the careers of both players.
“If I’d been Everton manager and Sir Alex had come asking for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, I’d have found it very difficult to keep them because I always felt the right thing to do was what was right for the players,” Moyes told the Guardian.
“I signed every player at Everton, so I know a lot about them. They are a great club and they are both excellent players.”
“The bid, from Manchester United’s point of view, was a private thing and if and when we make a new offer we’d keep that offer private and confidential as well.” continued the United manager.
“The transfer window is open and we can make bids and you can say ‘Yes or no’, it’s as simple as that. You are allowed to bid. That’s not our choice [to make it public]. That’s up to them. You need to ask them that question.
“There’s sort of a mixed market at the moment. No one is quite sure where the price is right. It’s a sort of strange market. Suddenly someone could give you big money. We’ve had offers for players at this club, which we feel are quite small. I can see it where other clubs might be thinking it’s not enough value for their players as well.”
