With Manchester United being shunned by young Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara this month, and the deal taking Cesc Fabregas to Old Trafford looking bleak, we take a look at three players who could potentially fill the void for the former Everton manager.
Marouane Fellaini
The natural figure that springs to mind is Toffees’ powerhouse Marouane Fellaini. The bullish Belgian had an incredible first half of last season, and although he fizzled out towards the end, his 11 goals, five assist and 60% shot accuracy was enough to get him mentioned amongst the best in the country.
The fee for the man famous for his afro would reportedly be slightly smaller than the £30-odd million that Fabregas would cost, and Moyes evidently knows how to squeeze the best out of him.
Christian Eriksen
One man who is still left waiting for his big summer move is Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen. It was thought that Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund were battling it out for his services, but interest seems to have cooled and it could spark a move from United.
The fee would be substantially less than other targets, and the fact that he is still only 21 speaks dividends. He scored 13 goals in 45 games last season in all competitions and could add a wealth of technical brilliance to the United midriff.
Luka Modric
Perhaps a long shot now in the shape of former Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric. The Croatia international has had a mixed bag at Real Madrid since his switch, but the second half of last season saw him flourish in the famous white of Los Blancos.
Modric scored three goals, created 56 chances and held a pass success of 88%. He does, however, still have a few years on his contract in the Spanish capital, so a deal would would cost a fair chunk of money.