Moyes under increasing scrutiny

PIRAEUS, GREECE - FEBRUARY 25: Manchester United manager David Moyes looks on before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Manchester United at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 25, 2014 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

PIRAEUS, GREECE - FEBRUARY 25: Manchester United manager David Moyes looks on before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Manchester United at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 25, 2014 in Piraeus, Greece. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Published Feb 27, 2014

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David Moyes is safe for now as Manchester United manager but his position is coming under increasing scrutiny from the Old Trafford board.

Moyes looked haunted as he arrived home from Athens knowing that his team’s season will effectively be over if they cannot overturn Tuesday’s numbing 2-0 Champions League loss to Olympiacos when they meet again in three weeks.

With United 11 points adrift of the top four in the Barclays Premier League and out of both domestic cup competitions, sections of the club’s fans are calling for Moyes’ head only eight months into his tenure at Old Trafford.

And while the United board will continue to back the former Everton boss (below), that could change unless the team show signs of progress very soon.

United plan to spend more than £100million in the summer as a huge number of players move in and out. Senior figures know United need two central defenders and a left back before they can think about buying any much-needed attacking players.

‘We will do whatever it takes to get back to the top,’ said one United source.

United cannot afford to hand such a massive transfer budget to the wrong man, which is why Moyes’ performance in the coming weeks is so important.

United do not play this weekend but then face a league run that includes home games against Liverpool and Manchester City. If Moyes continues to suffer during this period he will be hanging on to his job by his fingertips.

One player sure to go in the summer is Nemanja Vidic, who is expected to confirm a contract worth almost £20m with Inter Milan before the end of the week.

Agreement has been reached on a three-season deal that will send the 32-year-old into retirement at another of Europe’s most famous clubs.

The Serbia centre back, who is out of contract in the summer and a free agent, has been able to secure a salary of £3million a year after stoppages — the equivalent of around £6m a season before tax. – Daily Mail

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