Sam Allardyce believes David Moyes should have been given the same backing in the transfer market as Louis van Gaal, who has spent more than £150m on signings since his summer arrival at Manchester United.

Moyes was sacked by United in April following a torrid season at Old Trafford that began with the club’s failure to deliver the former Everton manager’s prime transfer targets, including Toni Kroos and Cesc Fàbregas. Marouane Fellaini was the only signing of note before Juan Mata’s January arrival.

Van Gaal has been effectively handed carte blanche in the transfer market with Ángel di María arriving for a British record £59.7m, along with the lucrative captures of Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Radamel Falcao.

Van Gaal’s squad still lacks balance and United were glaringly exposed by Leicester City last weekend – a 5-3 defeat condemning them to their worst start to a Premier League season.

And Allardyce, whose West Ham travel to Old Trafford this weekend, has questioned why United did not hand Moyes an open chequebook following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Allardyce told the Sun: “If I was sat at home in David’s shoes I would be wondering why they didn’t spent the £150m with me. There was a complacency by United in not going out and delivering the signings David felt he needed … he tells me he didn’t get any of them.”