ManU Manager David Moyes "will be given substantial funds" to reshape his squad, with club owners the Glazer family "recognising that the manager requires world-class reinforcements to help to maintain Sir Alex Ferguson’s legacy of success," according to James Ducker of the LONDON TIMES. Moyes "is expected to make a foray into the transfer market in January providing leading targets become available" as ManU looks "to put the frustrations of a miserable summer behind them." ManU "have endured their worst start to a season for 24 years" after successive league defeats against Man City and West Bromwich Albion and "will hope their problems do not mount" when they face Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine in the Champions League. The Glazers "are thought to share Moyes’s view that the squad needs strengthening in key areas and will not balk at spending well in excess" of £100M ($162M) to "ensure they remain successful in the coming years" (LONDON TIMES, 10/1).
COMPETITIVE LEAGUE: In London, Jamie Jackson reported Moyes is "considering" a potential £50M ($81M) move for Everton's Leighton Baines and Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera. However, Moyes "will sanction bids in the market only if he feels there is requisite value, to keep in line with club policy regarding transfers." The Glazers' "willingness to back the Scot in January reflects an understanding" that the first transfer window for Moyes and new Exec Vice Chair Ed Woodward "was always going to be difficult." Beyond this, the owners "recognise that the Premier League has become far more competitive this season following the managerial changes not just at their club," but also at Man City and Chelsea, plus the "renewed investment in those squads challenging for a Champions League berth" (GUARDIAN, 9/30).
PREPARING FOR TRANSFER WINDOW: Also in London, Ian Herbert reported ManU is "likely to respond opportunistically in January rather than lay detailed plans to spend then." It is possible Moyes "will be asked to work until the summer with a squad he has said is six world-class players light of Champions League-winning quality." But after a third defeat in six games at the weekend, ManU "could fall so far behind that they will begin struggling for a top-four finish domestically, if the concerning start to the Moyes era extends through this month." After Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat, "there is an acceptance that the club should have bought out Moyes’ contract at Everton as soon as they appointed him" -- giving him six extra weeks to "prepare for the frantic summer transfer window" (INDEPENDENT, 10/1).
