David Moyes to be given a £60 million transfer budget, according to report

According to a report by The Daily Telegraph's Mark Ogden -- the same journalist who broke the Sir Alex Ferguson retirement news and that Rio Ferdinand would miss the season-opener against Everton because of a training injury* (the latter report got him banned from Carrington) -- new Manchester United manager David Moyes will be given a £60 million transfer budget to work with in the summer transfer window. This is in alignment with previous reports.

* Word has it that Fergie was particularly peeved because he felt that David Moyes then focused his tactics around bullying Michael Carrick -- who was forced to stand-in as an emergency central-defender for Rio that night -- with Marouane Fellaini. As you probably remember, the big-haired Belgian did just that in a man of the match performance during a 1-0 Everton victory.

United supporters could be forgiven for being skeptical of such potential lavish spending due to the relative prudent nature of the club during the Glazer era. Nonetheless, reports continue to suggest that the club will be spending this summer in order to emphatically support the beginning of Moyes' reign. Keep in mind, as well, United should receive about an extra £20 million in revenue this season due to the Premier League's new television contracts.

According to Ogden, Moyes' main pursuits will be Leighton Baines, Thiago Alcantara, Cesc Fabregas, and Robert Lewandowski while United are apparently hesitant to pay the full amount of Marouane Fellaini's £23 million release clause. It was reported not long ago that Arsenal had triggered that same release clause, however, there have been indications in the past few days that the North London club put in a bid well below that amount. It's also being suggested that United will not use the £60 million towards Cristiano Ronaldo unless the former United superstar requests to leave Real Madrid -- and even then, sponsors would likely help fund any deal.

To an extent, the Baines, Thiago, and Cesc rumors make sense as they can all be argued to fill a need. The Lewandowski speculation, though, while he's a wonderful No.9, makes little sense because United already have a world-class Robin van Persie at the peak of his powers.

Another player heavily linked with United has been PSV Eindhoven's Kevin Strootman. The Holland international is believed to be keen on staying at PSV for at least another year so that he can get guaranteed regular playing time ahead of next summer's World Cup.

Keep in mind, as well, that the club could potentially raise more funds by selling the likes of Wayne Rooney, Nani, Anderson, Patrice Evra, and Anders Lindegaard -- although that wouldn't necessarily mean the funds would be released for spending.

£60 million -- keep that number in mind for now as a rough estimate of the club's transfer kitty this summer.