Without upgrades, Manchester faces tough season

MANCHESTER, England - David Moyes has no new weapons to deploy and instead must contend with a big question mark over the future of Wayne Rooney as he looks to mastermind Manchester United’s title defense in his first season in the Old Trafford hot seat.

This time last year, it had been an entirely different story for Alex Ferguson as he prepared to unleash new signing Robin van Persie, whose 26 league goals were to propel the club to a record 20th English championship.

Twelve months on, however, and United may have a new face in Moyes after Ferguson’s retirement, but their shopping bags lie sadly empty, apart from a young Uruguayan defender.

To compound matters, Manchester City has rubbed it in by splashing cash to bolster their squad.

A tricky series of fixtures means United will play rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, as well as bitter foes Liverpool, by the end of next month but United, which opens its campaign at Swansea City on Saturday, is unconcerned by the lack of new blood.

“I think it has been a slow transfer window,” midfielder and coach Ryan Giggs said.

“I said City had done their business early on but other than that, there has not been a lot of movement. It could be a hectic last two weeks (of the transfer window). We will just have to wait and see.

“If we sign someone - great. If not, we will just get on with it. We are quite happy with the players in our dressing room. We won the league with those players and we are looking forward to the start of the season.”

The lineup against Swansea could provide some clues as to Rooney’s future, particularly as he started England’s friendly against Scotland on Wednesday, but the questions seem likely to continue.

There are other issues to be settled too, such as how Moyes - who never won a trophy in more than a decade at Everton - will fare at the very top level of the game.

Reuters