David Moyes
After various failings in the transfer market last summer, David Moyes is under pressure to spend big in this month's January transfer window. Reuters

David Moyes has conceded that he is desperate to add players to his Manchester United squad but once more warned that there will be no quick fix in the January transfer window.

A 2-1 loss to Swansea City on Sunday knocked United out of the FA Cup and condemned the team to their fourth defeat in their last six matches at Old Trafford. Speaking after the latest blow in what has been a desperately disappointing start to his time at the club, Moyes sounded less than optimistic about the prospects of a dramatic injection of quality into the squad this month.

“There is an urgency that we would like to bring people in but are those players available in January?” he asked, according to ESPN. “So there is no point in me hyping it up because the players we would like to bring in are probably not available, not because we don’t want to do it.”

Despite Moyes’s comments, Sky Sports have reported that they have been told by officials at Old Trafford that there will be significant funds available to spend in January.

According to The Guardian, United have moved once more for summer target Fabio Coentrao, with the Real Madrid left-back even having agreed to make the move to Old Trafford. However, there is set to be further frustration with Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti stating that they will not be allowing anyone to depart in this window.

“No players are leaving and we're not going to sign anyone," he said on Sunday. "The window is closed for us."

While Moyes is keen to recruit a left-back, with Alex Buttner’s future uncertain and Patrice Evra’s performances leaving much to be desired of late, central midfield is widely thought to remain his focus. Atletico Madrid’s Koke is on United’s radar, but there appears to be little chance of the Spain international being recruited in January. With Atletico level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga and through to the last 16 of the Champions League, Koke has no great incentive to depart at this stage -- a view shared by Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Caminero.

“I'm not surprised with this subject [United’s rumored interest]," he is quoted as saying by Marca, according to Sky Sports. "He is a player who has improved considerably. It has also made it into the Spain squad and that puts you in the spotlight and opens more eyes.

"Koke will be with us for many years. I am convinced," he added.

With Manchester United desperately lacking in creativity, they have been credited with an interest in Montepellier’s Remy Cabella. Rather than United, Montepellier’s president Louis Nicollin revealed it was Newcastle who were showing interest.

"Manchester has not sent any proposal," Nicollin told Midi Libre, reports Sky Sports. "As for Newcastle , it seems to me they are about to make one, but I expect confirmation on that. But the idea is still that Remy is with Montpellier until June."

Moyes may already be thinking about overhauling the squad in the summer, and the Daily Express has claimed that he is monitoring Mario Mandzukic’s situation at Bayern Munich. The Croatian striker’s future has been called into question with the confirmation of Robert Lewandowski’s free transfer to Bayern at the end of the season, despite the European champions insisting that he will not be going anywhere. Arsenal are also said to be considering an approach for the 27-year-old in the summer.

Follow Jason Le Miere on Twitter

RELATED STORIES