Forget Fabregas and Herrera, Moyes' next big signing at United could be £1.5m midfielder from Chesterfield

By David Kent

PUBLISHED: 05:07 EST, 14 October 2013 | UPDATED: 08:08 EST, 14 October 2013

David Moyes may look to strengthen his Manchester United side with a January swoop for Chesterfield's highly-rated midfielder Tendayi Darikwa.

The 21-year-old has emerged as a target for the Barclays Premier League champions and Moyes was at the Highbury Stadium on Saturday to watch Darikwa play in Chesterfield's 1-1 draw at Fleetwood. 

Should the United boss aim to follow up his interest with a January bid, it would represent a dramatic change of focus compared to his summer midfield targets.

All smiles: Manchester United manager David Moyes (third right) acknowledges a spectator during Fleetwood's 1-1 draw with Chesterfield at the Highbury Stadium

All smiles: Manchester United manager David Moyes (third right) acknowledges a spectator during Fleetwood's 1-1 draw with Chesterfield at the Highbury Stadium

Focused: Moyes (left) keeps tabs on the action during the weekend's League Two draw between Fleetwood and Chesterfield

Focused: Moyes (left) keeps tabs on the action during the weekend's League Two draw between Fleetwood and Chesterfield

One for the album: A fan takes a picture of Moyes during the 1-1 stalemate at the Highbury Stadium

One for the album: A fan takes a picture of Moyes during the 1-1 stalemate at the Highbury Stadium

Top flight target: Chesterfield's Tendayi Darikwa (left) was in action at the Highbury Stadium

Top flight target: Chesterfield's Tendayi Darikwa (left) was in action at the Highbury Stadium

Before the start of the season, United were knocked back by Barcelona following their interest in £30m rated Cesc Fabregas.

While a £30.5m move for Athletic Bilbao's Ander Herrera collapsed on transfer deadline day as the Red Devils tried to spend big in an attempt to defend their title.

They also tried to sign Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira.

Chesterfield midfielder Darikwa is someone whom Moyes tracked while at Everton last season and  is also under the radar of Tottenham, West Ham and Fulham. 

Darikwa's superb form at the start of the season has only heightened Moyes' interest in the player who is valued at £1.5m, with the Spireites top of League Two following the draw at Fleetwood.

Cesc Fabregas
Ander Herrera

Previous targets: United tried to sign Cesc Fabregas and Ander Herrera (right) for lots of money in the summer

Chesterfield's chief executive Paul Cook is aware of the interest from Premier League clubs for the 21-year-old, and admits he doesn't know how long the club can hold on to their prized asset.

Cook said: 'Tendayi is a lad we know clubs are looking at. Will someone take him soon? That's out of my hands. But certainly as a young player there will not be many better around the country.'

Tendayi is a product of the Chesterfield youth academy and has made over 50 appearances since making his debut three years ago.

 

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people forget that laurent koscielny, arsenal's best defender since sol campbell came from a second division french team, carl jenksinsons (who's had some brilliant performances for arsenal) came from league 1 charlton, people need to seriously stop moaning and realise that moyes is a good manager. You don't do so well at everton for so long with such limited resources if you're a bad manager, football fans are so fickle

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What else did you expect? Fergie said Moyes had moved to the football equivalent of Harrods, but the Clueless One can't get rid of his Costcutter mentality

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first of all januzaj should not be insulted with 20k offer. man utd could lose him.. its a lot but for his abilities...

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This is Hilarious . Is Moyes insane ? If you trying to build a team for the future build it around Signature players . of course you will need to buy young talent but not until you have the big players . I would think he will learn from Arsenal

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One Flew Over Fellaini's Nest :)

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LMAO...ITS PAINFUL BEING A MAN UNITED FAN THIS YEAR...SO MUCH SO THAT EACH STORY THAT SEEMS TO INVOLVE UNITED IS MAKING ME LAUGH EXTREMELY HARD! EITHER THAT OR CRY... IN MOYES WE TRUST!

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Why can't he play for Man Utd if he is good enough? Did you know Drogba signed his first contract at age 21, after making his professional debut for a French Ligue 2 club at age 18? Now a Chelsea legend, he scored for his country just last weekend, still going strong at 34 yrs of age! Ian Wright (MBE) was discovered playing for Greenwich Borough by a football scout and signed his first professional contract for Crystal Palace age 22. He later represented his country 33 times. He scored 185 goals for Arsenal in 279 starts and 9 subs appearances. Need i say more?

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Drogba didn`t blossom until his late 20's. Moyes is gonna have to be patient until he gets it together:)

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you don't know what your doing

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He'll probably snub Moyse like all the others.

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Cook is the manager not chief executive! Do your research DM!

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Moyes need to be focus man he mus know what hes doing don't think he can make it to top 4 , how would u think of selling valencia the nly winger who can cross the ball in the box perfectly sell young and buy 2 midfielders n centre back nt wingers pls dont mess up with our team like that we serious fans ...

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