David Moyes wants to add three midfielders to the Manchester United ranks before the close of the transfer window on Monday and has had bids of €30 million for Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera and €12 million for Roma’s Daniele De Rossi turned down.

The manager is still intent on signing Marouane Fellaini from Everton, who was the subject of a rejected joint €42 million offer for him and Leighton Baines earlier this week.

With Herrera a central playmaker, De Rossi a defensive midfielder and Fellaini able to offer a more attacking option, all three would give Moyes something different.

The Scot has identified the trio as he attempts to overhaul an area of the squad where only Tom Cleverley and Michael Carrick are established first-team players.

Target
Herrera became a target once the pursuit of Cesc Fabregas foundered and the Bilbao president, Josu Urrutia, was quoted on the club's Twitter feed as saying: "We have had an offer for Ander Herrera.

“Our club is different, it is based on sentiment. Our objective isn’t to make money.

“We received the offer last night [Thursday]and have communicated that we will not negotiate for our players. For a player to go, first the player must express his desire to leave the club and pay the release clause.”

Herrera’s contract at Bilbao ends in 2016 but has a release clause of €36 million so United may have to return with this offer before the close of the window to sign him.

Regarding De Rossi it is understood that United have gone to the lengths of asking the former England coach, Fabio Capello, who was the Italian’s manager at Roma, about his abilities.

Rossi, 30, can play as a defensive midfielder or even as an auxiliary centre back, as he has done for Italy.

While Rossi was open to considering a move to United at the end of last season, after discussions with Rudi Garcia, the new manager, he is now of a mind to stay.
Guardian Service