Despite being in charge of one of the biggest and richest clubs in the world, Manchester United managers don’t always get what they want in the transfer market.
While Erik ten Hag looks set to sign Frenkie de Jong, there are doubts over whether United will be able to sign Jurrien Timber, Christian Eriksen and Antony.
We’ve taken a look at 15 times in the last 10 years where United didn’t sign one of their manager’s priority targets.
Gareth Bale
After replacing Sir Alex Ferguson in the United dugout in 2013, David Moyes immediately decided that Bale was his top transfer target.
But the Wales international, who won the PFA Player of the Year award in 2012-13, rejected United and decided to join Real Madrid.
“When I first went in to United my real target was Gareth Bale,” Moyes said in 2016. “I felt all along that Gareth Bale was a Manchester United player and I fought to get him [from Tottenham] right up until the last minute.
“We actually offered him a bigger deal than Real Madrid but Gareth had his mind made up on going to Madrid. He was, though, in my mind, the player I really wanted.”
Cesc Fabregas
Alongside Bale, Moyes was also desperate to sign a midfielder during the summer of 2013 as United needed a replacement for Paul Scholes.
United had two bids for Fabregas rejected by Barcelona and former United chief executive Ed Woodward left their tour of Australia to try and get the deal done.
“Cesc Fabregas, who I spoke to on the phone several times, was not sure of his place in the Barcelona team,” Moyes told BBC Radio Five Live in 2017.
“I remember him saying if he didn’t start the first game at Barcelona he would definitely be looking to join us. “And he started the first game at Barcelona. So, small things – you’re waiting on things happening.”
The former Arsenal captain remained at Camp Nou for the 2013-14 season before returning to England with Chelsea.
Leighton Baines
After working with Baines at Everton, Moyes tried to prise the left-back away from Goodison Park and bring him to Old Trafford.
United initially tried to sign both Baines and Marouane Fellaini in a package deal before making individual bids for both players.
While Fellaini joined United in a £27.5million deal, Baines remained at Everton after United’s £15million bid was rejected by the Toffees.
Having missed out on Baines, United then made a late move for Real Madrid’s Fabio Coentrao but that deal also failed to materialise.
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