Manchester United manager David Moyes is hoping to hear
some positive news about his pursuit of Cesc Fabregas within the next couple of
days.
As United's week-long stay in Sydney took them to a
public training session at the Allianz Stadium, which attracted more support
than the seasonal average of any side that plays there regularly, executive
vice-chairman Ed Woodward set to work on the urgent transfer business that
demanded his early return to Europe.
Given Woodward was due back in the UK on Sunday anyway,
it was a significant move on his part which suggested a major piece of
business.
And, speaking at a press conference to preview Saturday's
encounter with the A-League All Stars at ANZ Stadium, Moyes for the first time
endorsed the fact United had made a bid for Fabregas.
"I couldn't tell you exactly," said Moyes, when
asked for a progress update. "I am in contact with the chief executive who
has been dealing with it. I will hopefully know a little bit more in the next
day or so."
Although Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova claimed earlier
this week that Fabregas had informed him of a wish to remain at the Nou Camp, a
position which was subsequently endorsed by Arsene Wenger, United are working
on an alternative assessment of the situation.
They are of the opinion Fabregas is open to the idea of a
move, and Barcelona might well be too given their need to balance the books
following Neymar's £50million summer arrival.
Speculation about a mammoth bid for Gareth Bale continues
to swirl too, while Everton duo Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines have also
been the subject of repeated links.
So far, United's only signing of the Moyes era has been
Uruguay Under-20 defender Guillermo Varela, who is now on a break after
competing at the recent World Cup tournament in Turkey which England were so
poor at.
With less than a month remaining before the Premier
League opener at Swansea, followed closely by meetings with Chelsea, Liverpool
and Manchester City, Moyes is aware he is behind schedule.
He is hopeful of addressing that situation quite soon.
"We are trying very hard to make some additions to
the squad," he said. "Hopefully there will be some good news in the
not too distant future."
Yet, in exactly the same way as they hope no means yes in
Fabregas' case, the Red Devils are in the same position with Wayne Rooney.
Currently back in Manchester for rehabilitation work on
the hamstring injury that forced him home less than 24 hours after his arrival
in Thailand last week, there has been no indication Rooney is any less angry
about being depicted as Robin van Persie's understudy than he was when he
became aware of Moyes' comments at the weekend.
If there is no softening of attitude towards words Moyes
did not intend to be reported the way they have, it is impossible to see how
the 27-year-old can remain at Old Trafford without being a divisive presence at
a time when the new manager is trying to make the transition process as smooth
as possible.
The intricacies of Rooney's situation have been debated
around the world, including Australia, where fans have turned out in their
droves to catch a glimpse of United's players at any given opportunity.
Around 20,000 paid 15 Australian dollars (£10) to watch
them train, with Saturday's game an 83,500 sell-out in the same stadium in
which the British and Irish Lions sealed their momentous series win a fortnight
ago.
Moyes has confirmed his intention to hand Phil Jones a
start for the game, but last season's top scorer Van Persie is only set to be a
substitute after a hard first week's training following an extended summer
break.
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