Man Utd Transfer News: Lucas Moura Joins Growing List of Players To Snub Reds

With Manchester United potentially missing out on Sao Paulo midfielder Lucas Moura, another name looks set to be added to the list of rejections this summer. In April this year, Lukas Podolski reportedly snubbed United to join rivals Arsenal, and a month later, Eden Hazard rejected the club's overtures in favour of a move to Chelsea. Whether it is United's reluctance to spend big on the world's brightest talents, or their inability to do so remains unclear, but what is certain is that the Red Devils can no longer sign players at the click of a finger. Sao Paulo director Marco Aurelio Cunha cited money as being the major stumbling block over the proposed transfer. With United offering £29 million, it appears that offer falls short of Sao Paulo's valuation. Just over the road, rivals Manchester City are buying players at whim. Sergio Aquero and Samri Nasri were two of the most high profile signings in the 2011/12 season, with the former scoring that decisive goal in stoppage time on the final day of last seasons Premier League to seal the title for City. Now the two clubs are locked in a deadly battle to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal, and money could yet again be the deciding factor. Were City to trump United to the Dutch Ace's signature, then it would be a catastrophic blow to manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his side's ambitions of reclaiming their coveted Premier League crown. The squad looked stretched and threadbare at times last season, as they embarrassingly failed to qualify from the Champions League Group Stages. Now that Moura appears to have snubbed the reds, signing last season's record goal scorer seems almost imperative if they are to keep pace with their rivals. Yes, they have signed Shinji Kagawa, and sure, at 20, Moura wasn't exactly the marquee signing fans were hoping for, but the club's owners the Glazer family have been publicly maligned for their apparent lack of investment in the transfer market, with some critics suggesting they are more interested in servicing the clubs debts instead of bringing in new players. In spite of Alex Ferguson recently backing their ownership, fans may become impatient if the club continues to miss out on exciting talents, and the only thing that may sate them is the capture of van Persie to spearhead the new campaign. Missing out on Hazard, Podolski and Moura is one thing, but missing out on van Persie would be devastating.