Zimpapers Logo

STOCKHOLM. — Manchester United boss David Moyes insists that he will be bringing in players before the end of the transfer window.
Thus far, only young Uruguayan full-back Guillermo Valera has arrived at Old Trafford this summer and it remains to be seen whether he will be involved in the first team.
United have failed with bids for Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas and Leighton Baines this summer, but Moyes refuses to be dejected about so far hitting a brick wall in terms of transfers.

“I do think we’ll be bringing players in before the window shuts. They will come,” he said after seeing Manchester United draw 1-1 with AIK Stockholm.
“We’re moving along but if you said, ‘Is anything close?’, I couldn’t give you an answer.

“I’m relaxed, we’ve got a squad here and it’s the same group of players that won the Premier League last year. You can never tell until the season starts but we are looking forward to it.”

Quizzed again about Fabregas, he said: “I can’t really say anything about that. We will sign some players before the end of the window.
“And these are the champions of England. They are a good squad and I look forward to going in to the new season with them.”

Moyes insists he is more concerned about whether Wayne Rooney will be fit for the start of the English Premier League season than whether he wants to stay at Manchester United. Rooney missed the 1-1 draw with AIK in Stockholm on Tuesday night with a shoulder injury which has fuelled speculation he is avoiding playing for United until he is allowed to leave.

Moyes was both coy and defiant when questioned about the England international’s future following claims the England international had told him face-to-face that he wanted to quit Old Trafford this summer.

Although he skirted around a series of Rooney questions, while others were blocked by the club’s press officer, Moyes claimed he did not have to convince any of his players that they wanted to play for Manchester United.

When asked how Rooney felt about another week of intense speculation after Chelsea had a second bid of £25 million turned down by United, Moyes said: “I don’t know, I haven’t asked him recently. You don’t need to convince anyone to play for Manchester United.”

United have not budged in their stance that Rooney is not for sale, despite Chelsea’s public show of interest and suggestions from the Rooney camp that he wants to join Jose Mourinho’s side.

Understandably, United baulk at the idea of selling one of their star players to one of their main rivals, although their position may soften if a foreign club enter the bidding before the close of the window.

As for Rooney, if he really does want to leave, the time has surely come for him to hand in an official transfer request. For now, though, Moyes is giving little away other than the fact he is merely worried about Rooney’s fitness.

“There is nothing else I can tell you about Wayne except he has got a shoulder injury,” he added. “I don’t know whether he will be fit for (Rio Ferdinand’s Testimonial) on Friday. It is not a serious one and it won’t keep him out for a long time.” — Sky Sports-The Telegraph.