║ Barclays Premier League Season 2013-14 ║

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Ozil undergoes Arsenal medical after agreeing personal terms

Sep 2, 2013 12:41:00 PM

The Gunners have agreed a club-record €47 million fee for the Germany international and will complete the deal when formalities are completed

By Wayne Veysey

Mesut Ozil is undergoing an Arsenal medical in Germany after agreeing personal terms with the club, Goal can reveal.

The Gunners have agreed a €47 million fee with Real Madrid for the Germany international and are confident of completing the deal before Monday night’s 11pm transfer deadline.

Sources have told Goal that Arsenal’s record-breaking move is “very close to being agreed” amid reports of late interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsene Wenger will have to smash his wage structure to land Ozil, and as Goal exclusively revealed, senior club officials have been in detailed negotiations with the player’s representatives since Sunday evening.

Ozil is due to meet up with the Germany squad ahead of the World Cup qualifiers this weekend but should have no problem being given dispensation from the national team to have a medical.

It is expected that it would take place at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters but it is understood there is the facility for it to happen in Germany.

As revealed by Goal, goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has already had a medical, which he passed on Monday morning, and has agreed the terms of a season-long loan from Palermo. Arsenal are also working on a loan deal for Chelsea striker Demba Ba and are still in the running to capture Angel Di Maria, also from Real, for €30m.

THE VIEW FROM SPAIN

Mesut Ozil is adored by Real Madrid fans and many are unhappy about his likely departure, but the summer signings of Isco and Gareth Bale, plus the excellent form of Luka Modric and Angel Di Maria, mean the German has been squeezed out of the picture at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Ozil has been played out of position on the right by coach Carlo Ancelotti, asked to defend more and was furious as he left the pitch as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 win at Granada last weekend.

- Ben Hayward | Spain Correspondent

The Londoners are most confident of pushing through the Ozil deal, which would more than double their record transfer outlay, after holding high-level talks with Real in recent days.

Wenger turned his attention to Real Madrid’s battery of elite attackers after it became increasingly clear that Gareth Bale was set for a world-record £86m move to Spain.

The Gunners tabled a €30m bid for Di Maria last week and are still waiting to hear from Real if it has been accepted. The Argentine winger has begun the season in impressive form and is reluctant to cut his ties with the Bernabeu.

However, Ozil was left on the bench for Real’s 3-1 win on Sunday after being substituted during the 1-0 win at Granada six days previously, which he reacted to by storming down the tunnel and onto the team bus.

Asked about overlooking Ozil in favour of Di Maria on Sunday, Ancelotti said: “It’s to be expected that he’s not happy. I don’t like players who are happy to be on the bench. It was a football decision to play Di Maria, who is playing well and with great intensity".

 

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3 September 2013
Last updated at 00:05 GMT

Everton: Romelu Lukaku, James McCarthy and Gareth Barry sign

Everton have signed Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, Wigan midfielder James McCarthy and Manchester City's England international midfielder Gareth Barry.

Belgium international Lukaku, 20, and Barry, 32, join on season-long loans.

Everton have stated that McCarthy, 22, has signed for £13m, but Wigan say the fee is in the region of £15m.

The Toffees have also confirmed the departure of Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United for £27.5m and Victor Anichebe to West Brom.

Lukaku, who signed for Chelsea from Anderlecht in August 2011 for a reported £20m, spent last season on loan at West Brom, where he scored 17 Premier League goals.

He has appeared as a substitute twice for Chelsea in the Premier League this season and missed the decisive penalty in the Blues' Super Cup defeat by Bayern Munich.

The Baggies were hoping to bring Lukaku back to The Hawthorns but Everton beat them to his signature to offset the departure of Anichebe to West Brom.

McCarthy, who has played 16 times for the Republic of Ireland and was part of Wigan's FA Cup-winning side last season, was brought in to fill the void left by Fellaini's departure.

Everton have not revealed the length of his contract, describing it as a "long-term deal", while his former club Hamilton Academical have also received a substantial sell-on fee from Wigan.

England international Barry signs after making 132 Premier League appearances for Manchester City.

The former Aston Villa man, who helped City to FA Cup and Premier League successes, is in the last year of a five-year deal with the Manchester side.

 

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3 September 2013
Last updated at 01:25 GMT

Marouane Fellaini joins Manchester United for £27.5m

Manchester United have signed Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini for £27.5m late on transfer deadline day.

United had made a joint bid of £28m for both Fellaini, 25, and full-back Leighton Baines in August, which the Toffees had described as "derisory". Fellaini had a release clause of £23.5m in his Everton deal until 31 July.

Manager David Moyes said: "He is a player with great ability and strength and I think he will make a real difference to our squad." He added: "He can play higher up, if we need it, behind the striker or as a defensive or holding midfielder. In any position in the middle of the field he's comfortable.

"Because of that I think it's definitely a position where people have said we've been short of numbers, with the likes of Paul Scholes [retiring] and Darren Fletcher not ready to come back just now. I felt we needed to strengthen there and I'm glad we got him."

Marouane Fellaini
Age: 25
Nationality: Belgian
Clubs: Standard Liege, Everton
Everton appearances: 166
Everton goals: 33

The Belgian, who joined Everton from Standard Liege for £15m in 2008, was contracted to the Toffees until 2016.

He said: "I am thrilled to sign for Manchester United. I have known the manager for many years now and I have a lot of respect for his way of working. When I was given the opportunity to work with him again, I jumped at the chance.

"Being a Manchester United player is something that every player dreams of and I believe that I can make a real contribution to the team's efforts to win trophies in the future."
Full-back Guillermo Varela is United's only other signing of the summer.

United tried to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera and Everton full-back Baines before the deadline, but failed in their attempts. They were also left waiting on a deal for Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao which is yet to be confirmed.

Old Trafford manager David Moyes said after the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday that the club would try to bring in more players before summer window shut, but added: "I'm more than happy with the players I've got."

Fellaini was signed by Moyes five years ago and was a regular first-team player for the Scot. Despite being a midfielder, he was used as an emergency striker during his debut season and scored nine goals.

The Belgian, who made his international debut in 2007, was also booked 10 times in his first 17 games, but avoided a lengthier suspension by attending a personal hearing with Keith Hackett, England's chief referee, where the player gave his side of events but also promised to improve his behaviour.

He suffered an ankle ligament injury in February 2010 that kept him out of the rest of the season and another ankle injury around the same time the following season that forced him to miss the remainder of that campaign.

Fellaini bounced back and had an impressive 2011-12 season and was awarded with a five-year contract in November 2011.

He finished last season as the Everton's top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions. The deal was confirmed 51 minutes after the 23:00 BST deadline on Monday.

 

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2 September 2013
Last updated at 21:43 GMT

Mesut Ozil: Arsenal sign Real Madrid midfielder for £42.4m

By David Ornstein
BBC Sport

Arsenal have completed the £42.4m signing of Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil to break their club record by £27.4m. Ozil, 24, has signed a five-year deal.

"I am thrilled to be joining a club of the stature of Arsenal and am looking forward to playing in the Premier League," he said. The Gunners have also signed Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, 27, but talks have broken down with Chelsea to sign striker Demba Ba, 28, on loan.

Mesut Ozil factfile

Born: Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Age: 24

Club: Real Madrid

Previous clubs: Schalke, Werder Bremen

International: 47 caps for Germany, 14 goals

Honours: Spanish Super Cup (2012), La Liga (2011-12), Copa del Rey (2011), DFB Cup (2009), DFL Supercup (2009)

Ozil, who has Turkish parents, on his footballing ability: "My technique and feeling for the ball is the Turkish side to my game. The discipline, attitude and always-give-your-all is the German part."

"It will be great for my own personal development as a player and I am particularly looking forward to working with Arsene Wenger," Ozil told Arsenal.com. "From our negotiations it is clear the club has huge ambition and I look forward to being part of an exciting future."

Arsenal have failed in high-profile attempts to sign Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain, a former team-mate of Ozil at Real Madrid, this summer. But they have now captured Ozil after Gareth Bale's world-record £85.3m switch from Tottenham to Real triggered further deals on the final day of the transfer window.

The move easily surpasses the £15m they paid Zenit St Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin in 2009. Arsenal manager Wenger said: "He is a great player, with proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.

"I have said throughout the summer that we have been working hard to bring in top quality players to this football club. "This has involved many many people across the club and I have always had the full support of the club in making decisions on the football side."

Germany international Ozil joined Real from Werder Bremen three years ago for a fee believed to be about £12.4m and has played 155 times for the club. Going into transfer deadline day, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had previously made only two signings - striker Yaya Sanogo, 20, and midfielder Mathieu Flamini, 29, arriving on free transfers.

But the signing of Ozil, who helped Real win La Liga in 2011-12 and was named in Uefa's team of the tournament at Euro 2012, delivers a signal of intent to the Gunners' Premier League rivals.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis said: "This is an exciting day for all of us. We have signed a world-class player who is one of Europe's brightest young talents.

"Mr Kroenke, our controlling owner, has always fully supported Arsene and the club in making significant investments to strengthen our squad and to bring in talented players who fit our style and ambitions.

"Like all of us, Mr Kroenke wants to see Arsenal winning titles and trophies and he has absolute faith and belief in our manager to achieve that. We will continue to work towards that goal and look forward to an exciting season."

Ba, meanwhile, has played just 15 times for Chelsea in the Premier League since joining from Newcastle for £7m in January. His only appearance under Jose Mourinho this season was in the 2-1 home victory over Aston Villa on 21 August, when the Senegal international was substituted, but the Blues have informed Arsenal they will not loan him to a rival.

Viviano has been brought in as a back-up option to first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny. An Italy international, he stood in for the injured Gianluigi Buffon during the Azzurri's initial qualifiers for Euro 2012.

After impressing at Brescia and then Bologna, he joined Inter Milan but has struggled to recover his best form since sustaining a knee injury and spent last season on loan at hometown club Fiorentina.

 

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3 September 2013
Last updated at 03:08 GMT

Transfer Deadline Day: Man Utd struggle as rivals spend

Manchester United's scramble to get the deal for Marouane Fellaini from Everton over the line moments before the transfer window closed symbolised the confusion in a summer when a clear transfer strategy was conspicuously absent from Old Trafford.

And coming just 24 hours after the disappointing performance in defeat at Liverpool, it will have only increased the concerns of any United fans worried about life after Sir Alex Ferguson.

When new manager David Moyes walked through the doors to succeed Ferguson after 26 years, it was expected that United's new chief executive Ed Woodward would help him make a powerful statement of intent about the new era.

Instead, as Arsenal were claiming the honours with a stunning coup in the shape of a £42.4m deal for Real Madrid's outstanding Germany midfield man Mesut Ozil, United were left looking off the pace and struggling to close the big deals that their supporters understandably demand.

From the bold early summer claims in pursuit of Barcelona pair Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas - a chase that rarely looked anything other than doomed - Moyes and Woodward were left burning the midnight oil to do the deal for Everton's Fellaini and try to set up a loan deal for Real Madrid defender Fabio Coentrao.

And in the background in deadline week was another ill-fated move, this time for Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera, that ran aground as United could not agree a fee centred on complications surrounding his proposed £30.5m release clause and claims of impostors (no fault of United's if true it should be said) attempting to get involved in the deal.

While Moyes will be delighted to be reunited with Fellaini, who he brought to Everton in a £15m transfer from Standard Liege in September 2008, there are still questions about how United eventually arrived at a £27.5m deal for the 25-year-old and whether he is the sort of player they actually require.

He will be disappointed, however, that he was unable to complete a double deal for his former Everton players by signing England defender Leighton Baines.

Top signings on deadline day

• Arsenal sign Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for £42.4m
• Marouane Fellaini joins Man Utd from Everton for £27.5m
• Liverpool sign centre-backs Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori for a combined fee of about £25m.
• Everton sign Wigan midfielder James McCarthy for £13m and agree deals for Manchester City's Gareth Barry and Chelsea's Romelu Lukaku on season-long loans
• Aston Villa recruit Czech Republic striker Libor Kozak for £7m.
• West Brom sign forward Stephane Sessegnon for £5m-plus and Victor Anichebe for fee rising to £6m
  

Examine the timeline of this deal and it does not flatter United. In fact, it does the exact opposite.

United made a £28m offer for both Fellaini and Baines in August that was dismissed as "derisory and insulting" by Everton. And when the deal was finally secured, United - according to Everton's own official figure - ended up paying only £500,000 less for Fellaini alone.

If there was a logic and strategy involved, it takes quite some unravelling. And to add insult to injury United have also ended up paying more than the £23.5m release clause in Fellaini's contract, ironically inserted when Moyes was his manager at Everton, and which expired at the end of July.

It raised questions of how high Fellaini was on Moyes' original list of priorities when he knew he could be secured for this figure before the start of August and has ended up paying more in September.

Fellaini, while a fine player, does not appear to be the identikit of the sort of midfield player needed to reinvigorate a department of United's team that is in urgent need of repair.

He will provide power, aerial threat and goals. Fellaini will also provide an element of enforcement but will he really provide the element of craft and creation United's midfield needs?
It has been a testing transfer window for Moyes and Woodward, a trusted aide of the Glazers, and there is no doubt many United supporters will be unimpressed with the end result of their summer's work.

Moyes is still feeling his way and there is no doubt he is operating in a completely different world to the one he was used to at Everton, where both his budget and scope of potential targets was limited.

And does he have the same pull as Ferguson when it comes to attracting players? Again not his fault, but there is little doubt the allure of playing for the legendary Scot carried a special appeal.

Woodward is stepping into the shoes of the highly respected David Gill and the evidence suggests he has struggled to get to grips with the hazardous business of closing out big deals in an increasingly cut-throat market.

Do clubs find it easier to say "no" to Moyes and Woodward than they did to Ferguson and Gill? Everton and chairman Bill Kenwright certainly stood their ground firmly, getting a very respectable fee for Fellaini and quite simply refusing to countenance the sale of Baines.

The sense of anti-climax at Old Trafford was in sharp contrast to elation at Arsenal following the capture of 24-year-old Ozil.

Here is the player of the "super quality" manager Arsene Wenger insisted he would add - and the sort of player many feel would have provided that missing ingredient to Manchester United.

Chief executive Ivan Gazidis pledged that Arsenal would escalate their spending this summer and show the financial ambition to compete with the best. For all the criticism they received - and they did leave it late in the day - Ozil is living proof that there is high ambition at Arsenal as this deal was pushed through.

In among the other transfer events, the other big deadline day winners were Everton.

As important as any incomings was keeping their outstanding left-back Baines, who is now likely to be rewarded for his loyalty and complete professionalism throughout United's interest with a lucrative new contract.

They may have lost Fellaini but the loan signing of Romelu Lukaku will delight their supporters. The 20-year-old Belgian was outstanding on loan at West Bromwich Albion last season and his signature is a real coup for new Everton manager Roberto Martinez and Kenwright.

Kenwright's close relationship with Lukaku's representatives helped swing the deal in Everton's favour and left the Baggies bitterly disappointed as they hoped to bring him back to The Hawthorns. He is often the target for criticism at Everton so it is only right he receives credit for his part here.

Wigan's James McCarthy is young midfield player rich in promise while Gareth Barry, on loan from Manchester City, provides a counterpoint of experience.

The big questions, however, will surround the manner in which Manchester United's transfer business was, or more significantly was not, concluded.

And the verdict has to be - must do better. A lot better.

 

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Moyes gets his man (and just in time)! Fellaini joins United in late £27.5m deal

By Chris Wheeler
PUBLISHED: 06:36 GMT, 2 September 2013 | UPDATED: 06:29 GMT, 3 September 2013

Manchester United finally signed Marouane Fellaini from Everton in a £27.5million deal on a chaotic deadline day at Old Trafford.

United’s bid to sign Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera collapsed when they refused to meet his £30.5m buyout clause.

And the day ended in confusion over whether the Premier League champions had agreed a season-long loan for Real Madrid left-back Fabio Coentrao after abandoning their pursuit of Fellaini’s team-mate Leighton Baines.

Reunited: Fellaini with manager Moyes after signing for Manchester United

The deal to sign Coentrao, 25, was in doubt amid speculation that it had been completed too late and that Madrid had pulled the plug because their bid for Guilherme Siqueira from Granada had hit trouble.

United also failed with inquiries to Madrid for Mesut Ozil, Luka Modric and Sami Khedira.

Fellaini helped force through his move to Old Trafford by going to Everton’s Finch Farm training ground and handing in a formal transfer request.

New man in town: Fellaini poses in a Manchester United shirt

Here he is: Fellaini arrives with Moyes at Carrington

Fellaini said: 'I am thrilled to sign for Manchester United. I have known the manager for many years now and I have a lot of respect for his way of working. When I was given the opportunity to work with him again, I jumped at the chance.

'I had a fantastic time at Everton and I’d like to thank all the fans and staff there for everything they have done for me. But being a Manchester United player is something that every player dreams of and I believe that I can make a real contribution to the team’s efforts to win trophies in the future.'

Moyes said: 'I have worked with Marouane for five years and I’m delighted he has decided to join Manchester United. He is a player with great ability and strength and I think he will make a real difference to our squad.'

The fee agreed between the two clubs is £4m more than the buyout clause in Fellaini’s contract that expired earlier this month and was due to kick in again in January.

It is only £500,000 less than the joint bid for Fellaini and Baines that Everton dismissed as ‘derisory and insulting’ only last week. However, it ensured that Moyes did not end the window empty-handed.

Reunion: Manchester United manager David Moyes worked with Fellaini during his long stint at Everton

He was known to be concerned about going back to his old club to make Fellaini his first significant signing in charge at Old Trafford after a summer in which United have been heavily linked with higher profile targets such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara.

The 25-year-old Belgian was his fallback option but even that deal was pushed right to the 11pm deadline as Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, whose once close relationship with Moyes has deteriorated in recent weeks, took a tough stance.

It was a dramatic end to a difficult first transfer window for Moyes and new United chief Ed Woodward.

The scattergun approach and public rejections have been in marked contrast to the more calculated manner in which United conducted their transfer business under Sir Alex Ferguson and former chief executive David Gill.

Having rejected an opportunity to sign Ozil last week, it is understood that United made a late move for the German international yesterday but backed off when they were told negotiations over his £42.5m move to Arsenal were well advanced.

Targets: Both Fellaini (left) and Leighton Baines (right) played for Everton at Cardiff on Saturday

The decision to make another attempt to sign Herrera was not reached until yesterday morning after Bilbao president Jose Urrutia rejected an initial bid last week.

The situation was complicated by reports that impostors posing as United officials had turned up at Spanish league HQ in Madrid to try to profit from the deal, although agents close to the negotiations disputed this version of events.

Moyes could make a fresh attempt to sign Herrera, 24, in January and the player is known to be keen on a move to Old Trafford after agreeing a five-year deal worth £2.5m a year.

Moyes insisted the move foundered because United were not prepared to meet Bilbao’s asking price.

‘I really like the player but we thought the buyout was the wrong valuation and we were trying to do a deal,’ said the United boss.

Going nowhere: United's bid to sign Herrera from Athletic Bilbao collapsed

Everton moved immediately to replace Fellaini, with manager Roberto Martinez signing James McCarthy from his old club Wigan in a deal that was completed even later than the Belgian’s move to United.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan had warned that the deal was on the verge of collapse but agreed to sell the 22-year-old Republic of Ireland midfielder for £12m plus £3m in add-ons.

Everton also struck season-long loans for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry.

Lukaku moved to Goodison Park instead of West Brom, where he spent last season on loan, and Albion subsequently signed Victor Anichebe from Everton for £6m.

Negotiations over Barry went on close to the deadline, with City finally relenting on their demands for a permanent transfer for the England international, who is in the final year of his contract.

Everton failed in their bid to sign FC Porto midfielder Fernando in a £15m deal, despite attending the Brazilian’s work permit hearing in London earlier in the day, after he expressed a wish to join a Champions League club.

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Sunderland complete one-year deal for former Liverpool defender Dossena

By Graeme Yorke
PUBLISHED: 12:33 GMT, 2 September 2013 | UPDATED: 21:46 GMT, 2 September 2013

Paolo Di Canio has brought in his 14th player of the transfer window with former Liverpool left back Andrea Dossena signing for Sunderland on a one-year deal. Having already brought in Fabio Borini from Liverpool on a season long loan, the Italian manager has captured his second player on deadline day after a medical. Dossena failed to secure a move to Torino last week, but is ready to leave Napoli for another stint in the Premier League.

Mirror image: Andrea Dossena has signed for Sunderland as part of the mass recruitment

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Ozil left stunned by Arsenal move

By Tony Mahoney618
Sep 2, 2013 11:20:00 PM

The €50 million attacker has admitted that his transfer to the Premier League club came as a massive surprise

Mesut Ozil has admitted he was stunned at the dramatic turn of events which culminated in his deadline day switch to Arsenal.

The Germany international joined the Gunners from Real Madrid in the closing moments of the transfer window for a fee of €50 million after an unsettling end to his spell in Spain alerted the north Londoners to his availability.

Ozil reacted angrily to being substituted by Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti in the Liga win over Granada last Monday, storming straight into the changing room and heading straight for the team bus. He was then left out of the XI which beat Athletic Bilbao 3-1 on Sunday, prompting speculation over his future.

And after his club record move to the Emirates Stadium on Monday, the 24-year-old spoke of his surprise at the sudden shift in his fortunes.

In a statement on his personal Facebook page, Ozil said: "Things developed differently than I would have expected them to a few days ago.

"Thank you very much for three wonderful years with all of you. My time at Real Madrid was unique and special for me.

"Although I’m leaving Real Madrid, I wish you and the team the very best for the future. Now I’m looking forward to my new club: THE GUNNERS!"

Ozil had stated publicly last week that he loved Real Madrid and was happy to stay at the club but he now begins his career as an Arsenal player, beginning with the trip to Sunderland on September 14.

 

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Man United's Coentrao move hangs in the balance after La Liga retract statement confirming deal

By Graeme Yorke
PUBLISHED: 22:19 GMT, 2 September 2013 | UPDATED: 01:08 GMT, 3 September 2013

Manchester United's 11th-hour loan swoop for Real Madrid left back Fabio Coentrao is on the rocks as the club wait to find out if the necessary paperwork was completed in time for the deal to go through.

Having missed out on Leighton Baines, Red Devils manager David Moyes turned his attentions to Coentrao and it seemed he had pulled off an amazing last-ditch coup when the move was officially confirmed by La Liga officials.

On the rocks: Coentrao's move to Man United hit a snag late on Monday night

At around 10.45pm on Monday night, La Liga announced the Coentrao deal and Real Madrid's signing of Brazilian left back Guilherme Siqueira on a season-long loan from Granada.

But both of those statements were later retracted, with reports in Spain claiming that Benfica have hijacked Real's deal for Siqueira, resulting in the Spanish giants pulling the plug on the Coentrao move at the last minute.

United confirmed the £27.5million arrival of midfielder Marouane Fellaini on their official website and they are expected to make an announcement on Coentrao on Tuesday morning.

Should the deal fall through then the news will be greeted with dismay by United fans, who have been less than impressed with the club's dealings during the window.

Highly rated: Coentrao is considered among the best left backs in Europe

Done deal: Everton have confirmed the £27.5m sale of Marouane Fellaini to Old Trafford

And it leaves Moyes in the tricky position of needing to explain to Patrice Evra why he felt another left back was required.

One theory was that Coentrao would have operated at left back, with Evra in a more advanced role, which he played during his early years as a professional.

Nevertheless, Evra's form last season and the early weeks of the current one was not that of a man who needed replacing.

Now the France star will remain in his favoured role, with Alex Buttner also set to stay at Old Trafford as his deputy following talks over loan deals with both Besiktas and Celtic.

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EXCLUSIVE: 'I want to win a title for Arsenal' says £42.5m Ozil after Wenger smashes club record to bag Real midfielder

By Neil Ashton and Sami Mokbel
PUBLISHED: 07:45 GMT, 2 September 2013 | UPDATED: 06:45 GMT, 3 September 2013

Arsenal broke out of their financial straitjacket on Monday night with a club record £42.5million capture of Arsene Wenger’s ‘dream signing’ Mesut Ozil.

In a watershed day at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners contributed to a record-breaking £500million transfer window bonanza to lure the Germany midfielder from Real Madrid. Ozil’s fee eclipses the £17.5m Arsenal paid for Jose Antonio Reyes in January 2004.

Arsenal have also made the 24-year-old their highest-paid player with a five-year deal worth around £140,000 a week.

Star saviour: Ozil has joined Arsenal for a club-record £42.5million fee

Stint: Ozil has played 158 times for Real in just over three years

Dream 48 hours: Arsene Wenger, here celebrating during the win over Spurs, has now signed Mesut Ozil

Fanatic: Arsenal fans show their support for Ozil outside their training ground in London Colney

Ozil said: ‘I look forward to my future with Arsenal. In talking with Arsene Wenger, I immediately sensed what had been missing, the wholehearted trust in me. I will pay back the club and the fans in each game. Now I want to help the club to finally win a title.’

His capture means the club have kept their promise of landing a high-profile signing after failed attempts with Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain.

Wenger said: ‘He is a great player, with proven quality at both club and international level. We have watched and admired him for some time as he has all the attributes I look for in an Arsenal player.

‘I have said throughout the summer that we have been working hard to bring in top-quality players. Mesut is a top-quality footballer who will be a fantastic addition to our talented squad. We are all looking forward to him joining up with us after his international matches with Germany.’

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis added: ‘This is an exciting day for all of us. We have signed a world-class player who is one of Europe’s brightest young talents.’

Arsenal had to fight off competition from Paris Saint-Germain, who sought to gatecrash the move yesterday afternoon until a heart-to-heart with Wenger persuaded Ozil to reject a more lucrative offer from Laurent Blanc’s side.

Continental: Ozil is pictured last week in Madrid, but the midfielder will swap one capital for another

Ozil was adamant that he did not want to leave the Bernabeu when he first heard of Arsenal’s interest 10 days ago. But international team-mate Per Mertesacker, who played with Ozil at Bremen, talked his close friend into a change of heart.

Ozil issued a heartfelt statement in four languages to Real fans on Monday night, saying: ‘Thank you very much for three wonderful years with all of you, my time was unique and special for me, sometimes things develop differently than I would have expected them to a few days ago.

'I wish you and the team the very best. Now I’m looking forward to my new club: The Gunners!’

Together: Lukas Podolski poses with his Germany and new Arsenal team-mate, while Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla also took to Twitter to air their delight at the signing

Preferable: Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti (below) has opted to keep Angel Di Maria over Ozil

OZIL LETTER TO REAL MADRID FANS

Mesut Ozil posted a heart-warming letter on Facebook to Real Madrid fans in four different languages after his move to Arsenal:

dear fans of real madrid,

thank you very much for three wonderful years with all of you. my time at real madrid was unique and special for me. sometimes things develop differently, than i would have expected them to a few days ago.

although I’m leaving real madrid I wish you and the team the very best for the future.
now I’m looking forward to my new club: THE GUNNERS!

Arsenal’s first scouting report on Ozil dates back to 2007, when the playmaker broke into Schalke’s first team. Wenger tried to sign him on several occasions after he had moved to Werder Bremen.

In addition to Ozil’s signing, Wenger completed a deal for Palermo goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a season-long loan. The 27-year-old, who will compete with Wojciech Szczensy, cost a £1million loan fee.

Wenger has also secured first option to buy Viviano, who has six Italy caps, on a permanent deal next summer.

The Arsenal manager said: ‘Viviano is a player we have rated for some time. He’s experienced and has proved himself at a high level and provides us with excellent cover.’

Thankful: Ozil posted a heart-warming letter to Real Madrid fans on his Facebook page

Moving on up: Wenger has finally come up with the goods at the 11th hour

Arsenal tried to resurrect their interest in Luis Suarez on Sunday night but their efforts were instantly rebuffed by Liverpool.

Upon meeting up with his Uruguay team-mates yesterday, the striker said: ‘I closed this subject a while ago. I have already taken the decision to stay at Liverpool.’

Arsenal also failed to secure deals for Real duo Benzema and Angel Di Maria, as well as missing out on Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano.

New recruit: Ozil will wear the number 11 shirt at The Emirates this season

Balancing act: Real have sold Ozil because they have signed other attacking players, including Gareth Bale

 

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Transfer Wrap: Premier League
3 September 2013

Arsenal broke their transfer record to sign Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid on deadline day. Here we round up the major Premier League deals.

Ozil, 24, signed a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium for a fee reported to be in excess of £40million, giving the club's fans the big-name signing they craved.

The attacking midfielder joined Arsene Wenger's side in the last hour before the transfer window shut, and his arrival is a significant boost to the club's hopes this season.

The Germany international was not the only arrival at Arsenal on Monday, with Italian goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano signing a season-long loan deal from Palermo earlier in the day.

Monday's other biggest deal saw Manchester United finally complete the signing of midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton for a fee of £27.5million.

The 25-year-old became David Moyes' second signing following the arrival of young full-back Guillermo Varela, though the Scot allowed Bebe to leave for Pacos de Ferreira.

Meanwhile, Liverpool added three players to their squad on transfer deadline day, doing their business early, as defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori signed permanent deals while winger Victor Moses joined on loan from Chelsea.

Sakho, 23, arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee in the region of £18million and the Frenchman will give manager Brendan Rodgers options in central defence, while another player in that position, Tiago Ilori, joined from Sporting Lisbon.

Moses signed a season-long loan deal at Anfield, while Liverpool sent attacker Fabio Borini to Sunderland for the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign, and Dani Pacheco left, signing a permanent deal at Spanish outfit Alcorcon.

Another Italian, Andrea Dossena, also joined Sunderland on a permanent deal from Napoli.

Crystal Palace were among the most active sides in the window, completing their business by signing defenders Adrian Mariappa and Jack Hunt, and midfielder Barry Bannan.

Mariappa, a centre-back from Reading, and left-back Hunt – who joined from Huddersfield Town – will give Palace depth, while Scotland international Bannan was brought in from Aston Villa.

Palace defender Peter Ramage exited the club - signing for Championship side Barnsley on a season-long loan deal.

Stoke City completed the first move of Monday, with striker Marko Arnautovic signing from Werder Bremen on a four-year deal, while Aston Villa's Stephen Ireland joined on loan for the season.

West Brom broke their transfer record to sign Sunderland attacker Stephane Sessegnon, with the Benin international signing a three-year deal at the club.

And The Hawthorns outfit also signed France international Morgan Amalfitano from Marseille on loan for the season, with the option to make the deal permanent, while goalkeeper Lee Camp joined on a free transfer.

Despite further bolstering their squad with the acquisition of Victor Anichebe from Everton, there was late disappointment for Steve Clarke's side as they missed out to the same club on the loan signature of Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea.

Armed with the money from Fellaini's sale, Roberto Martinez's side went on to add James McCarthy to their ranks on a permanent basis, while Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku arrived on temporary deals from Manchester City and Chelsea.

Cardiff City signed West Brom forward Peter Odemwingie, subject to Premier League ratification.

The Nigerian forward had been linked with moves to Swansea and Stoke during the transfer window but Malky Mackay has won the race for the 32-year-old, who has signed a two-year deal after the £2.5million move.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa signed Czech striker Libor Kozak from Lazio, for a fee reportedly worth £7million, Swansea loaned Alvaro Vazquez from Getafe and Manchester United defender Nick Powell joined Championship side Wigan Athletic, also on loan for the duration of the season.

Stoke sent Ryan Shotton out to Wigan for the season, as Tottenham also allowed Tom Carroll and Benoit Assou-Ekotto to drop down to the Championship with QPR and Fulham signed Elsad Zverotic from Young Boys.

 

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Manchester United to launch internal inquest into summer transfer failures

Sep 3, 2013 10:03:00 AM

Manager David Moyes and assistant vice chairman will conduct a special review of the club's failures during the window, with Marouane Fellaini the club's only significant signing

EXCLUSIVE
By Paul Clennam

Manchester United officials including David Moyes and assistant vice chairman Ed Woodward will conduct a special internal inquest into the club's disastrous summer transfer dealings, Goal can reveal.

The Old Trafford outfit completed the £27.5 million signing of Marouane Fellaini in the final minutes of the transfer window on Monday - their only major deal of the summer.

But United's inability to secure other marquee targets this summer, including Spanish trio Thiago, Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera - over whom the club enquired about on deadline day - has led to senior club figures preparing an informal investigation into what went wrong.

It is thought that the club will look to use the international break to analyse their summer dealings, ahead of the players returning to training before hosting Crystal Palace on September 14.

Moyes, who remained at the club's Carrington training base late into Monday night to ensure the signing of Fellaini was completed before the 23.00BST deadline, has earmarked a number of potential incomings in recent months but saw all but the Belgian fall by the wayside.

Thiago, who joined former boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, had been the subject of talks between United and Barcelona in July, with the Red Devils keen to add a central midfielder to their ranks following Paul Scholes's retirement and the ongoing illness of Darren Fletcher.

Moyes also publicly declared an interest in signing Fabregas from Camp Nou but saw the former Arsenal star commit his future to the Catalan giants, with United having had two bids for the midfielder rejected.

The Premier League champions also saw a deadline day offer for Leighton Baines rebuffed by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright, who maintained the full-back was not for sale throughout the summer.

As such, United brought in only two players over the summer, with 20-year-old Uruguayan Guillermo Varela the only other arrival alongside Fellaini at Old Trafford.

 

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Premier League clubs spend a record £630m in summer transfer window

By Husmukh Kerai133
Sep 3, 2013 10:58:00 AM

Gross spending totalled 29 per cent more than the equivalent 2012 figure of £490m and £130m more than the previous record of £500m set in 2008, according to analysis by Deloitte

Premier League clubs combined spent a record £630 million [€743m] in the summer 2013 transfer window, according to analysis by business advisory firm Deloitte.

Mesut Ozil was the most expensive arrival in the Premier League. The Germany international signed for Arsenal from Real Madrid for a club record €47m, the second largest transfer fee ever for a Premier League club, while Tottenham sold Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a world-record fee of €100m.

"The story of this summer transfer window is of new records: a new record for Premier League spending as well as a new world transfer record fee," said Dan Jones at Deloitte.

"Whilst the sale of Gareth Bale brought £85m [€100m] into the Premier League, net spending is also a record, at £400m [€472m]. As the financial rewards for participation and success in the Premier League increase, so it follows that clubs are investing on the pitch to ensure they continue to benefit from the remarkable Premier League growth story."

Premier League clubs have greater funds at their disposal with cash from their latest domestic three-year TV deal. BT Sport has spent £738m [€871m] over three years for the rights to 38 live matches a season, while Sky paid £2.3 billion [€2.7bn] for 116 matches a season.

Alex Thorpe, consultant at Deloitte, added: “This is the first year that Premier League clubs will benefit financially from the league's new broadcast deals; each club benefitting from a share of the extra £600m [€708m] of revenues in 2013-14 alone.

"Testament to the impact this is having is in the scale of Premier League gross spending, as well as the gulf in net spending between the Premier League and other European leagues.

"Whereas many clubs around Europe have been reliant on selling players in order to spend, the financial advantages Premier League clubs enjoy has enabled net spending of £400m [€472m] across the league.

"Many clubs, including new entrants to the league, have successfully competed in the European transfer market to attract high profile foreign talent."

After the Premier League, the next highest spenders were La Liga and Serie A, each with a gross spend of £335m [€395m], followed by Ligue 1 with £315m [€372m] and the Bundesliga with £230m [€272m].

 

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Did Real Madrid 'bully' Ozil into joining Arsenal? Claims in Germany suggest £42.5m record signing was forced into move

By DAVID KENT

PUBLISHED: 11:05 GMT, 3 September 2013 | UPDATED: 11:10 GMT, 3 September 2013

Mesut Ozil's arrival at Arsenal has rejuvenated the club overnight, suggesting the Gunners are ready finally to end their agonising trophy drought that stretches back to 2005. But reports in Germany that the playmaker was 'bullied' by Real Madrid into moving to north London are threatening to cast a shadow over Arsenal's club record £42.5million deal. Popular German daily Bild makes the claim in an article under the headline 'Germany's most expensive player of all time', in which the newspaper hails Ozil as a €50million capture for Arsene Wenger.

Welcome aboard: Lukas Podolski (right) and Mesut Ozil (right) pose with an Arsenal shirt in Germany

Star saviour: Ozil has joined Arsenal for a club-record £42.5million fee

Claims: German daily newspaper Bild suggests that Ozil was forced to move to Arsenal

The paper also questions whether Gareth Bale, at €100m (£86m), is really worth more than Cristiano Ronaldo, who was formerly the world's most expensive footballer at £80m until the Welshman arrived at the Bernabeu from Spurs on transfer deadline day.

Arsenal broke out of their financial straitjacket on Monday night with Wenger’s ‘dream signing’ of Ozil, who is currently in Munich preparing for his country's World Cup qualifier against Austria on Friday night.

In a watershed day at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners contributed to a record-breaking £500million transfer window bonanza to lure the Germany midfielder from Madrid. Ozil’s fee eclipses the £17.5m Arsenal paid for Jose Antonio Reyes in January 2004.
​

 

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Bony scores! Why is Swansea's new striker surrounded by these four lovelies?

By SUNNI UPAL
PUBLISHED: 11:23 GMT, 3 September 2013 | UPDATED: 11:57 GMT, 3 September 2013

Wilfried Bony received his Dutch Footballer of the Year award on Monday night - not the ladies, the 'Gouden Schoen' trophy.The 24-year-old Ivorian striker joined Swansea for £12million in the summer after catching the eye of manager Michael Laudrup. Bony impressed during his time in the Netherlands, scored 46 goals in 65 Eredivisie matches for Vitesse Arnhem having joined from Sparta Prague in 2011.

Success: Swansea striker Wilfried Bony receives his 'Gouden Schoen' (Golden Shoe) award

Hit: Bony has scored four goals so far at the Liberty Stadium after his £12m move from Vitesse Arnhem

Prolific: Bony scored 46 goals in 65 Eredivisie matches for Vitesse Arnhem onhis way to the award

He made an instant impact at the Liberty Stadium last month, scoring two goals on debut in Swansea's 4-0 Europa League qualifying win over Malmo. Bony also hit the target in his Premier League debut against Manchester United, which Swansea lost 4-1, before another strike against Romanian side Petrolul. Bony's Ivory Coast team face Morocco in Abidjan on Saturday in a World Cup 2014 qualifier.
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United confirm second deadline day signing... but it isn't Coentrao as Swiss teen Janko (who?) signs in £700k deal

By ADAM CRAFTON PUBLISHED: 17:22 GMT, 3 September 2013 | UPDATED: 17:45 GMT, 3 September 2013

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of 17-year-old right-back Saidy Janko from FC Zurich. He joins United in a deal understood to be worth £700,000 after impressing United scouts at the FIFA Blue Stars Tournament earlier this year. United representatives are reported to have been taken by Janko's performances against United in particular.

New kid on the block: Janko, 17, has signed for Manchester United from FC Zurich

Janko, who was born in Switzerland but has a Gambian father and a Swiss/Italian mother, enjoyed a successful trial period at United's AON Training Complex before being offered a deal. Janko completed his move before the deadline on Monday evening and joins Marouane Fellaini and Guillermo Varela as David Moyes' 3rd and final summer transfer. He is not expected to be involved with the first-team this year and will ply his trade in the lower age groups.

Late-night capture: Fellaini poses with manager Moyes at Carrington

​

 

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I'm angry! Ronaldo slams Ozil's £42.5m Arsenal move as Real stars queue to question sale

By CHARLIE SKILLEN PUBLISHED: 08:54 GMT, 4 September 2013 | UPDATED: 09:21 GMT, 4 September 2013

​

Cristiano Ronaldo has declared his anger at Mesut Ozil’s departure to Arsenal. German playmaker Ozil was a deadline day record signing for the Gunners at £42.5million, with Ronaldo becoming the latest Real Madrid star to express his frustration at the move. According to Spanish paper AS, Ronaldo has told Portugal team-mates his views on Ozil's departure, which came hours after confirmation of the world-record £86million signing of Tottenham's Gareth Bale.

'Angry': Cristiano Ronaldo has told international team-mates he is not pleased at Mesut Ozil's sale

In action: But new Arsenal signing Ozil's departure has been questioned by a host of Real Madrid's top stars

New colours: Ozil (left) showing off his new Arsenal shirt with Gunners striker Lukas Podolski

'The sale of Ozil is very bad news for me,' he said.'He was the player who best knew my moves in front of goal... I'm angry about Özil leaving.'Such was the German’s popularity at Real, he was one of the few players with friends on both sides of the club’s divide. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portuguese contingent were all fond of Ozil, while captain and Spain standard-bearer Sergio Ramos even risked Jose Mourinho’s wrath to stand up for Real’s No 10. In a game against Deportivo, when Ozil was taken off at half-time, Ramos put the No 10 shirt on under his own for the second half. He felt Ozil was being unfairly targeted by Mourinho and if he scored was ready to rip off his shirt to dedicate the goal to his friend.

Fighting fit: Ronaldo reportedly expressed his anger to Portugal team-mates, training on Tuesday

Tribute: Sergio Ramos posted this picture on Twitter of him proudly holding Mesut Ozil's last Madrid shirt

And there are other voices of dissent. Madrid’s former sporting director, Jorge Valdano, has already said: ‘If they gave me the choice I would put the Ozil-Angel Di Maria pairing before Bale. I would certainly put Ozil before Bale.’Real claim the move to Arsenal is a result of Ozil wanting to leave, but everyone knows he has been told to go because the club need to pay loans taken out to bring in Bale, costing £100m-plus in repayments. Ronaldo will miss Ozil’s ability to find him with a pass anywhere on the pitch, something Bale will not be able to offer.The Portugal star's words come after a host of other top Real players spoke out on their team-mate's departure for London.

Strike a pose: Fellow attacking midfielder Isco was another player to question the sale of Ozil

Ramos said: 'It's obvious that he is a special teammate and friend,' said Ramos.'I've always had a real 'feeling' with him, and it's a shame. He's a great footballer, unique. 'Ozil would be the very last player who I would sell from Real Madrid, if it was up to me. I don't understand this.'But he has decided, and the club too. We have a great team and I hope it will be a big year [for us].'Ramos took to Twitter to post a picture of him holding Ozil's last ever Madrid shirt, with the message: 'Your last match's t-shirt will be kept foundly with me.'

New man: Ozil was sold after the world-record £86million signing of Gareth Bale from Tottenham

Madrid playmaker Isco, who joined the club from Malaga this summer, added of Ozil's sale in Marca: 'To be honest it has surprised me, and more so after he said last week that he was going to stay.'We all know Ozil, he has a lot of quality and he's a player who is capable of changing a game."Alvaro Arbeloa, who like Madrid team-mates Isco and Ramos is currently on international duty with Spain, echoed the thoughts of his colleagues and admitted Ozil would be missed both on and off the pitch. He said in AS: 'I'm a little bit surprised, it's a shame, and it's a big loss to the dressing room, on a footballing level and on a personal level too.

Pinpoint passing: Ozil (centre) in action against Granada's Brayan Angulo (left) and Hassan Yebda

'He said goodbye to us on Sunday, but I thought he was joking. He's very different, there's no player like him in the world. He makes the difference on the pitch.'He'll have his reasons for moving. But we will keep looking forward, we have other great players. I understand it's tough for the fans, they loved him. He is a phenomenon and got on well with everyone. It's a real loss.'

With additional reporting from Pete Jenson
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Ten things the Reds got wrong in the summer

4 Sep 2013 08:56
By Stuart Mathieson

Ed Woodward, Mesut Osil and Cesc Fabregas all feature in Stuart Mathieson's verdict on what Manchester United got wrong in the transfer window.

WINDOW SHOPPING: United signed Fellaini but failed in other efforts

The 2013 summer transfer window will go down as the most fraught and chaotic in United’s history. Old Trafford chief executive Ed Woodward has been given a verbal kicking on social media by the Reds support for his major part in the shambles.

The final hours were full on intrigue involving mystery imposters posing as United officials , target names appearing late on the radar from left field, transfer requests and stubborn sellers making the Reds sweat. In the end it was just Marouane Fellaini who was prised from his club by the champions.

It all left United’s fans asking questions about the whole mess. Here the M.E.N’s United reporter attempts to unravel and answer some of the many transfer window shenanigans.

1) Why did United pay £27.5m for Marouane Fellaini when they could have got him for £23.5m last month?

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright cleverly played hard ball over the Belgian midfielder. He was in the strong position of having an asset United were quite clearly desperate for and made them sweat. The Reds rubbed Everton up the wrong way with previous so-called “derisory and insulting” offers and they were prepared to take it to the wire.

In the end United were not prepared to go above the £23.5m they could have got him for and so Fellaini was forced to submit a transfer request and forego money he would have received when he left Goodison Park.

It cost him a multi-million pound wedge but Everton got the fee they wanted and United paid the price they wanted to pay. Though certain add-ons could take the final fee to £27.5m that is not the money United will shell out immediately.

2) What happened with the Ander Herrera deal?

All along Athletic Bilbao had said they didn’t want to sell and they are not a club that needs to sell. However, every player has a price and the Basque club valued the midfielder at 35m euros. If United had been prepared to pay that then Bilbao would have reluctantly let Herrera go.

Though manager David Moyes was extremely keen on bringing him to Old Trafford, United did not agree on Bilbao’s valuation and wouldn’t pay over the odds. They tried to negotiate down but were unsuccessful. Neither side would budge and so the deal collapsed.

3) Why did the club go public on the Cesc Fabregas deal?

It was a new open strategy that chief executive Ed Woodward thought would prove successful. It showed the fans United were active in the market where previously it was all hush-hush and both the media and supporters were frustrated by the policy.

But it proved a disaster. Great for the media and good for the fans to dream about getting a player of Fabregas’s calibre but when it all falls through you are made to publicly look humiliated to a large degree.

Had United landed Fabregas it would have been hailed as a refreshing way forward but, as it turned out, the policy spectacularly blew up in Woodward’s face.

4) The Leighton Baines deal festered all summer - why did United not pay a realistic price and get the deal done?

Again it is simply down to United’s valuation of a player. Understandably you are not going to go in from day one with your biggest bid. That’s the nature of any business deal and so the Reds' initial offer of around £12m was just a taster.

The joint package offer of £28m for the left back and Fellaini didn’t really add much more value to Baines . Everton wanted the two deals done separately so it was transparent how much they had reaped for both.

United topped out at £15m and Everton still didn’t think it was enough. At that point United were not prepared to pay over the odds and pulled out.

5) The late attempt to get Fabio Coentrao fell through. Why was he not identified earlier?

Leighton Baines was the priority target for a position that most United fans didn’t even think was a priority considering the fine form of Patrice Evra.

Obviously David Moyes doesn’t quite share the same full confidence in the strength of the position with Evra and his understudy Alex Buttner. Balls are always being juggled in the transfer market with generally more than one option on the go.

Once it became known that Real’s Portuguese left back was potentially up for grabs United registered their interest but didn’t move until the Baines scenario ended. However, Real couldn’t get their replacement left back, Brazilian Guilherme Siqueira from Granada, in time as Benfica had already agreed a loan deal with him and wouldn’t back out of the agreement so the late Coentrao interest came and went rapidly.

6) What happened about Ed Woodward’s ‘urgent business’ flight from Australia?

Nothing obviously! He returned from the pre-season tour to Australia and the Far East and it was to pursue a target in Europe.

The timing suggests it was to land Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona but clearly nothing emerged from that urgent business trip.

7) Why did United not go in for Mesut Ozil?

Arsenal’s club record £42.4m capture of the German international midfielder from Real Madrid was the stand-out window transfer as far as the Premier League was concerned.

Immediately news broke that the Gunners were actively pursuing Ozil, ears pricked up among United fans that the Reds would do battle with them. The 24-year-old had been linked as one of the names that could be sacrificed at the Bernabeu to make room for Gareth Bale.

He ticked the boxes as far as the attention needed on United’s midfield department but it is now understood that Ozil was never discussed at Old Trafford as the club went for other targets instead.

8) Did the Wayne Rooney saga take up to much time and energy?

United had two priorities this summer. One was to strengthen the midfield, which ultimately they did with the purchase of Marouane Fellaini; the other was to keep everybody’s hands off Rooney .

Despite the England striker’s break up of his working relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes felt he could get Rooney back on track and was adamant he wouldn’t be sold, hence the rebuff of two Chelsea bids.

In terms of actual man-hours the fact United’s hierarchy were involved in contract negotiations meant it didn’t impact on incoming transfer business. It was merely a side issue that took up some of Moyes’ time at press conferences.

9) Why did United not rival Real Madrid for Gareth Bale?

There was some interest from United in getting the Welshman to Old Trafford. But the Reds apparently quickly deduced that while the midfielder wanted to leave Tottenham he had set his heart on Real Madrid.

It was felt they would always be fighting a losing battle on this one and wasting time and energy.

10) Was Cristiano Ronaldo ever a viable option?

The reported package deal being put together by some of United’s major sponsors like Nike is understood never to have been a possibility. If Ronaldo had been bought the cash would have come strictly from United coffers and nowhere else. However, United effectively lost the ace up their sleeve when Sir Alex Ferguson retired.

Ronaldo always spoke of Fergie highly and as a father figure and he enjoyed an incredible welcome when he returned to Old Trafford for the Champions League last season. But the minute Fergie’s remarkable reign ended it was always going to be a long shot that the winger would return this summer.

 

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Moyes: Fellaini will 'big player' for United

By Terry Pierce44
Sep 3, 2013 8:55:00 PM

The Belgian was the sole deadline day arrival at Old Trafford, leaving many Red Devils fans underwhelmed, but the Scot is confident his €32.5 million man will make an impact

Manchester United boss David Moyes is confident new signing Marouane Fellaini will be a big hit at Old Trafford.

The Belgium international completed a €32.5 million move from Everton on transfer deadline day and the Red Devils boss, who coached the midfielder for five years during their time together at Goodison Park, is extremely excited by his old charge's arrival.

"Marouane is not someone you want to be playing against," Moyes told reporters. "He has attributes other people don’t have.

"And with those qualities he has, I am sure he will be a big player for Manchester United."

United had initially made a combined bid for Fellaini and Toffees team-mate Leighton Baines earlier in the summer that was both rejected by Everton and described as "derisory".

The English champions ultimately failed in their bid to land Baines but managed to sign Fellaini just before the close of the transfer window.

However, the Old Trafford outfit also picked up 17-year-old Saidy Janko from FC Zurich, but only confirmed the transfer on Tuesday.

The Swiss defender is the club's third signing of the window following Fellaini's big-money arrival and that of full-back Guillermo Varela from Penarol.