Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has hinted that the club's new vice-chairman Ed Woodward is struggling to ease into his role.

The Premier League champions are yet to strengthen their first team this season following numerous failed attempts to sign Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

A joint £28m bid, which Phelan has described as "cheeky", for Everton pair Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines was rebuffed by the Merseyside outfit, who described the offer as "derisory and insulting".

"I think that was a cheeky bid," Phelan told BBC Radio Manchester. "It was never going to get off the ground. What they have done is opened the line into Everton. Where that takes them, I don't really know, it will be being discussed as we speak.

"I don't think it will stop there. I also think David [Moyes] will be looking at one or two others to try and get that player in that everybody is craving. Ed Woodward has previously been on the commercial side and concentrating on bringing money into the club rather than spending it.

"It is a totally different outlook. He will learn that. He may be frightened by a few prices every now and again but he will have to pick that up, because you are dealing with high quality football players."

Woodward took on his new role following the departure of David Gill, who stepped down from his position at the same time that manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired.