We don’t do panic buys, Man Utd tell fans

Keeping Wayne Rooney was one of Manchester Uniteds two priorities for the transfer window, Phil Townsend has stated. Picture: Getty

United were widely condemned for their transfer business over the summer. Both Moyes, and particularly executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, were criticised when Marouane Fellaini ended up being their only signing.

Even then, the transfer only took place when Fellaini agreed to waive around £4million in loyalty payments from Everton so United did not end up forking out more than the £23.5million clause inserted into the Belgian’s contract, which Moyes allowed to expire at the end of July.

Some supporters were irritated enough to write to the Old Trafford outfit and demand answers. And under the fans’ charter, established by the Premier League and which United adhere to, director of communications Phil Townsend wrote back to explain the club’s thinking.

“The club has always backed the manager in the transfer market, as Sir Alex [Ferguson] has said on many occasions and it will continue to do so,” said Townsend.

“The club has demonstrated its belief in, and commitment to, David Moyes through the award of a six-year contract. Allowing him to shape the future Manchester United team is a long-term project not an eight-week panic. He must be given time to assess his new squad and come to his own decisions on which players he feels will strengthen it.”

Indeed, as Townsend also pointed out, and United stressed privately immediately after the window closed, there has been a reshaping of Moyes’ squad, and two of the most immediate priorities were met.

“The club had two main priorities for the transfer window,” said Townsend. “The first was to keep Wayne Rooney. He is a world-class player and the manager is very keen to have Wayne as a key part of the club’s drive to retain the Premier League trophy. That aim was fulfilled.

“The second priority was to add a midfield player, and the capture of Fellaini has met that need. Add to that the fact that Wilfried Zaha is a new signing and that the manager has added the highly-rated young player Adnan Januzaj to the squad and the team does in fact have a different feel to it than the one that finished last season.”

Townsend confirmed United had spent in excess of £40m this summer, “more than it has traditionally spent on transfers”, a figure that includes the transfer fee for Wilfried Zaha, who remained at Crystal Palace on loan for the remainder of the previous campaign after signing for the Old Trafford club in October.

Michael Carrick, meanwhile, says Rooney is hungry for success after failing to win a move away from Old Trafford.

Rooney became only the fourth player in United history to reach 200 goals for the club when he scored twice in Tuesday’s 4-2 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen, and Carrick said: “It was as good as I’ve seen him for a while. He looked sharp and he looked hungry.

“His movement and touch was all there and he showed exactly what a player he is. It’s great to have him in that kind of form.”