Manchester United failed with bids for FOUR Real Madrid players in the final hours of the summer market, it has been revealed. New chief executive Ed Woodward has been held largely to blame for a disastrous final few days of the transfer window.
The Daily Mail says United delayed too long over trying to steal Mesut Ozil away from Arsenal, were rebuffed over Real Madrid's Sami Khedira and Luka Modric and finally missed out on Fabio Coentrao after Real failed to recruit a replacement for him.
United passed up the chance to sign Ozil a fortnight ago as they were pursuing other options.
As word filtered back that Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera was looking a non-starter and Ozil's father, Mustafa, let it be known his son might favour Old Trafford ahead of the Emirates, they were encouraged to backtrack and contact their Bernabeu counterparts for an update on developments.
A deal was already in place with Arsenal for Ozil, a verbal offer of 40million for Khedira was turned down and, finally, an enquiry about Modric's availability was just as firmly rebuffed.
