With less than two weeks remaining before Sept. 2's transfer deadline shuts down player movement for the foreseeable future,
the Red Devils have done little to bolster their roster in pursuit of a second straight league title.
While some of United's transfer struggles can be traced to their frustrations surrounding Wayne Rooney's long-term status at Old Trafford, Moyes has simply not done enough to woo clubs in his pursuit of top-notch talent.
It's gut-check time for the Red Devils. Keeping that in mind, here's a look at the latest transfer gossip surrounding three players connected with a move to Moyes' outfit and two others linked to a move away from the Manchester club.
Latest on Everton Duo
Everton's Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines have been the subject of interest from their former manager for quite some time, but nothing has really moved at Everton's end because Moyes has failed to hit the combined value of the two Toffeemen thus far.
It looks like that is about to change.
According to the Daily Mirror's Alan Nixon, Moyes is prepared to up his bid for the Everton duo from £28 million to £35 million. Knowing that the Toffees need to sell players to buy new ones, United are hoping they can strike a deal that nets them the two stars without breaking the bank.
That being said, there's no guarantee that new Everton boss Roberto Martinez is in any mood to sell. As noted by Chris Bascombe of The Daily Telegraph, the Toffees considered United's last advance for Fellaini and Baines to be "derisory and insulting."
An extra £7 million might not be enough to convince Everton it's time to part ways with two of their best players.
Looking at all the facts, the Red Devils might need to increase their bid towards £40 million to officially convince Everton that they are better off with the money than the talent.
Former EPL star Michael Owen might not agree with opinions that paint Fellaini as the answer at Old Trafford, but he does rate the Everton pair highly:
If you study tweets like these from ESPN's Paul Carr, it might not be a stretch to say that Martinez has the upper hand in getting the most return he can for two of his regular starters:
Scheduled to battle Chelsea next week, Manchester United have been expected to make a significant move in the transfer window for quite some time.
If they can sign Fellaini and Baines before the Blues visit Old Trafford, it would help appease fans who are worried that the lack of movement has hurt the club's progress.
Then again, Everton could always say no.
Wayne Rooney Situation
It will be up to Moyes to deny Jose Mourinho a third time if the Red Devils have not completed any other significant transfers.
As it has been throughout the summer, it's increasingly unlikely that United will sell Rooney without landing a player capable of taking over his role at Old Trafford. If a Fellaini/Baines coup could be sealed in the next few days, we might see a full-scale 180 in Moyes' previous "no-sell" stance.
The Blues have been intent on adding Rooney to Mourinho's lineup for a good portion of the summer, and "The Special One" appears poised to see his interest in the 27-year-old striker through to the transfer deadline.
As it has been throughout Moyes' short tenure, the Red Devils will continue to weigh the pros and cons of sending one of the few creators on their roster to a rival club. Without a drastic change stemming from a successful transfer elsewhere, Rooney will be a Red Devil on Sept. 3.
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If their pursuit of Fellaini comes up short, United will likely look to Spain for midfield help yet again.
Per the report, United have had their advances for Madrid's Mesut Ozil rejected at every turn. However, Modric remains a realistic target for Moyes and the reigning EPL champions.
In a bit of transfer news, United defender Scott Wootton has agreed to join Leeds on a three-year contract.
Transfer news has been few and far between for Manchester United this summer.
As we come down the proverbial straightaway of the current transfer window, we'll see if Moyes can turn rumours to news before the Sept. 2 deadline ends United's opportunity to strengthen their lineup.
Source: BleacherReport
Follow B/R's Ethan Grant on Twitter. @DownTownEG
