Moyes explains which two signings he wanted most at United

David Moyes says that he wanted to sign Gareth Bale and Cesc Fabregas when he was Manchester United manager.

Moyes was appointed United manager in the summer of 2013, taking over from the retiring Sir Alex Ferguson.

He made one signing of note in his first transfer window – Marouane Fellaini from former club Everton – before adding Juan Mata to his squad in January.

But the Scot was fired by April during a season of complete underachievement.

He says that Bale and Fabregas were the two signings he had earmarked in his first summer.

“I spoke to Gareth Bale a couple of times. He had his heart set on going to Real Madrid, we tried to change it,” he told BBC Radio Five Live. “We tried to convince him but we couldn’t do so. We offered more money to Tottenham at that time.

“Cesc Fabregas, who I spoke to on the phone several times, was not sure of his place in the Barcelona team. I remember him saying to me ‘if I don’t start the first game at Barcelona then I’ll definitely be looking to join you’ and he started the first game at Barcelona.

“So it’s small things, you’re waiting on happening. But I don’t want it to sound like hard luck stories because there were other players, but those were the two who looked to me like Manchester United players.”