David Moyes has transformed West Ham into European contenders, but his tenure at Manchester United remains a cautionary tale. Appointed to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, the Scotsman was sacked after just ten months, the club's shortest managerial stint in 82 years. His failure to secure key signings during the summer transfer window contributed to his downfall, forcing a last-minute £30 million deal for Marouane Fellaini from his former club Everton.
Toni Kroos was on the verge of joining United under Moyes. The German international revealed in 2018 that a deal 'had basically been done', but Moyes' sacking derailed the move. Kroos went on to win the World Cup with Germany that summer, prompting Real Madrid to sign him for €24-30 million (£20.5-25.5 million). He has since won 13 trophies at the Bernabéu, including three Champions Leagues. Kroos told The Athletic: 'David Moyes had come to see me and the contract had basically been done but then Moyes was fired and Louis van Gaal came in, which complicated matters.'
Cesc Fabregas was another target Moyes pursued relentlessly. The former Arsenal midfielder had returned to Barcelona in 2011 but struggled for regular playing time. Moyes attempted to lure him to Old Trafford for £25 million, but Fabregas opted to stay at Barcelona for another season before joining Chelsea in 2014. At Stamford Bridge, he won two Premier League titles and an FA Cup. According to The Athletic, Paul Pogba had expressed a desire to return to United after leaving for free a year earlier, but Moyes ignored that option to focus on Fabregas.
Gareth Bale was the first player Moyes tried to sign, viewing the Welshman as the ideal replacement for the retiring Ryan Giggs. Moyes said: 'Gareth Bale was probably the first name I thought of when I got the job. I thought Bale was a Manchester United player.' However, Bale chose Real Madrid instead, where he won multiple Champions Leagues and La Liga titles. Moyes later reflected that missing out on these stars was a significant blow, telling beIN Sports in 2020: 'Toni Kroos would certainly be the one who if I’d got to Manchester United he’d have been winning.'
