David Moyes warns Man U players: Juan Mata not the last signing

DAVID Moyes warned Manchester United's underperforming players that they were running out of time to be part of the club's future.

DAVID Moyes warned Manchester United's underperforming players yesterday they were running out of time to be part of the club's future as he looked to follow the signing of Juan Mata with more top-class additions.

The United manager promised there would be more arrivals of similar quality to Mata, who was expected to make his United debut against Cardiff City at Old Trafford overnight after his Pound37.1 million ($70.2m) transfer from Chelsea.

While there remains a slim possibility of one more acquisition before Friday's transfer deadline, Moyes said the main recruitment drive would come in the northern summer, which puts pressure on some of the players he inherited from Alex Ferguson.

Significantly, these do not include Wayne Rooney who is moving closer to an agreement over a highly lucrative extension to his contract, which expires at the end of next season. There is a possibility that a deal could be finalised within days. Rooney had a slim chance of returning against Cardiff after missing six of the past seven matches with an adductor problem.

Those under serious scrutiny include Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra, whose contracts expire in June, Antonio Valencia and Javier Hernandez, while Rio Ferdinand, Alexander Buttner, Nani, Ashley Young and Shinji Kagawa are already likely to be surplus material. "I am not going to accept it," Moyes said of United's disappointing season, with his team seventh in the Premier League.

"I'm disappointed that we're not in a much stronger position. I'm disappointed with how we have played. I will ultimately take the rap for that, but what I will do is make it right. I'm going to get better players in. There will be more.

"Unfortunately, I don't think there will be more in January, but it will change. We will change and alter it around. I have said many times that I have given every player here the opportunity to play and show what they can do. We have nearly done that now."

Moyes's immediate priorities in the transfer market are a left-back and at least one midfielder, but the main emphasis is on lining up new signings for the northern summer.

United is tracking players of the quality of Eliaquim Mangala, the Porto defender, Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba, both of Juventus, Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos and Marco Reus, the Germany midfielders, and Edinson Cavani, the Paris Saint-Germain striker, in addition to Luke Shaw, the Southampton left-back. Moyes said that "there will be more players like Juan in the future, I've no doubt".

The manager has already sent Anderson on loan to Fiorentina - his prospects at Old Trafford were summed up by having his No 8 shirt taken by Mata - while Wilfried Zaha, on loan, and Fabio Da Silva are joining Cardiff City.

With Fabio leaving, it is possible that United will make a bid for Shaw, but Mauricio Pochettino, the Southampton head coach, maintained yesterday that the 18-year-old, who is also wanted by Chelsea, will not be sold.

"I just wanted to go to a place where I feel happy," the 25-year-old Mata said, having fallen out of favour under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

"I think everything is going to be fine with the squad we have, with the players who will come in the summer."

THE TIMES