Moyes' three failed Man Utd transfer targets who would have changed everything

23 December 2023 , 09:15

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Moyes' three failed Man Utd transfer targets who would have changed everything

David Moyes can't wait to lock horns with a Manchester United side who he sees as West Ham's equal on Saturday lunchtime.

Seeking to get over the disappointment of their Carabao Cup hammering at Liverpool, the Hammers host the Red Devils knowing that a win would take them above their visitors and into sixth place in the table at least temporarily.

"It says a lot about where we are at the moment and what we’re doing that you’re talking about West Ham as direct rivals to Manchester United," said Moyes ahead of the game.

"We’re fighting hard to stick with the top teams if we can. If we win it could get us into the top six or seven at the weekend, we’re just outside at the moment.

"We want to keep that going, we want to keep pushing hard in the league and we want to try to get European football for a fourth year in a row if possible. Manchester United at home, we have to try and use our home form to get something out of the game."

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It won't just be the three points which serves at motivation for Moyes either, with the Scot of course in charge of Manchester United for less than a season before his dismissal in 2014.

It didn't work out for David Moyes at Manchester United (PA)

Much has been said and written about the former Everton manager's time at Old Trafford since his departure, but Moyes was left to reflect on the failure to sign three world-class players in his only summer transfer window at the helm.

In a 2020 interview with Richard Keys and Andy Gray at the height of the first coronavirus lockdown, Moyes was asked if there were any players he had regretted not being able to sign during his career.

“One of them would be Michael Essien, that was actually to bring him to Everton," he said. “Toni Kroos would certainly be the one [to Manchester United].

“At that time we [Manchester United] were very much after Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas but I’ve got to say prior to that, at Everton, we were really close to close to a lot of good players. We just couldn’t quite get them over the line on several occasions."

Instead of signing those players for United Moyes brought in Marouane Fellaini as his only senior sining that summer, with Juan Mata following in January.

Mark Jones