Manchester United defend transfer strategy to supporters

Manchester United have responded to their supporters' concerns by insisting that their transfer strategy was keeping to the "long-term" plan set for manager David Moyes.

The Premier League champions came under scrutiny for securing just one major signing during the summer window, which was the capture of midfielder Marouane Fellaini from Everton for £27m on deadline day.

Following their late business, an email sent to fans by director of communications Philip Townsend has defended the club, stating that keeping hold of Wayne Rooney was one of their main objectives.

"The club had two main priorities for the transfer window," The Mirror quotes the letter as saying. "The first was to keep Wayne Rooney. He is a world-class player and the manager is very keen to have Wayne as a key part of the club's drive to retain the Premier League trophy. That was fulfilled. The second was to add a midfield player, and the capture of Fellaini has met that need."

As well as claiming that the arrival of Wilfried Zaha and the introduction of youngster Adnan Januzaj has given the team a "different feel" to the one that finished last season, the club also state that Moyes needs to be given time to get things right.

"Allowing [Moyes] to shape the future Manchester United team is a long-term project not an eight-week panic," added Townsend. "He must be given time to assess his new squad and come to his own decisions on which players he feels will strengthen it."

Meanwhile, United managed to get this season's Champions League campaign off to a winning start by securing a 4-2 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the group phase.