Mark Bosnich: Manchester United season is “heading towards a disaster”

Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich believes the club has got to spend significantly in January if the reigning Champions are to salvage their troublesome season.

Sitting in a lowly seventh place in the Premier League, 11 points off of top-spot and reeling from a shock third round FA Cup exit at the hands of Swansea, David Moyes is now under serious pressure.

A transition period following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure was expected, but failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League would be a disaster for the Scot.

Moyes has been criticised, along with Chief Executive Edward Woodward, for a lack of transfer activity last summer that saw several high profile targets slip through their fingers, including Leighton Baines and Cesc Fabregas. Even the deadline day arrival of Marouane Fellaini was bemoaned due to the frantic late circumstances and the Belgian’s subsequent poor form.

“Man United’s problems can be traced back to their lack of activity in the transfer window last summer,” You have to improve your squad every year if you’re going to stay on the top.” Bosnich told TalkSport.

“The Glazers, Ed Woodward or whoever is calling the shots, have really got to stand up in this January transfer window and give Moyes funds to get the players he really wants. This season is heading towards disaster – they might not finish in the top four. They really need to say, ‘this season is salvageable, we might not win the title but we could finish in the top four but we need to identify big players, players of Manchester United’s calibre and spend some money,” declared the Australian.

Although Moyes has raised doubts over the calibre of players that are available mid season for the right price, Bosnich is adamant that United have to raise their game in the transfer market if they are to continue to secure the most wanted players ahead of Europe’s elite, to many of which money is no longer an object.

“You’re talking about one of the richest clubs in the world,” he added. “If you’re at a club and they come in for a player you automatically put your price up. They’re going to have to start paying what the market rate is for players if they’re going to get the type of quality of players that Manchester United deserve.

“I know they have got a history of saying, ‘we’re only going to pay so much because you’re coming to play for Manchester United’, but many of the top players in the world haven’t got the same ‘love’ for Manchester United as some players in Britain have. For them, it’s about choosing which is the best club to play for. Are they playing in the Champions League? What are they offering me in comparison to PSG, Juventus, Real Madrid or Barcelona? They are going to have to pay over the odds. If you want the best you have to go and pay for it.”