David Moyes
Reuters

Manchester United manager David Moyes has confirmed that the Red Devils have money to spend and were very close to making a couple of world class signings last summer.

United are currently ninth in the league table, 13 points off the top, and need a turnaround of epic proportions if they have to stake claim for a top four spot. The reigning champions have already lost five games in the league and are looking vulnerable at home, which - barring the odd 6-1 thrashing by Manchester City - was never the case under Sir Alex Ferguson. The Old Trafford legend hung up his boots last summer and Moyes has been trying to take his legacy forward.

The Red Devils were actively scouting former Arsenal captain and current Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas last summer but failed to convince the 26-year-old to move back to the Premier League. Thiago Alcantara and Ander Ferrera were two other players who slipped through Moyes's hands before the last-minute swoop for Marouane Fellaini, who has so far failed to live up to expectations. However, Moyes is confident that they can put their failures behind them and bring in real quality when the opportunity presents itself.

"We have got the money and the club will spend. 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 elsewhere," Moyes told United's official website.

"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," he said.