Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is likely to be frustrated by club officials over transfer spend despite being keen to add to his squad in January.
Ten Hag oversaw a summer transfer window that was ultimately a busy one for United, with three deals concluded in the closing week to take the total incomings at Old Trafford up to six. The arrivals of Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka followed those of Tyrell Malacia, Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen.
The Dutch boss is already reaping the rewards from the summer arrivals, with four successive Premier League victories transforming the mood around Old Trafford and suggesting that the club are on an upwards curve.
Yet the number of departures from the first-team squad was in double figures and many more players are likely to be allowed to leave over the course of the next year. Cristiano Ronaldo remains intent on departing the Red Devils despite not getting his summer transfer wish, while other exits are also anticipated.
There is an awareness among Ten Hag and his staff that his squad will need further additions if they want to continue to close the gap to the best side’s in the Premier League and in Europe, but the club are likely to step in to prevent further spending in January.
“We have many meetings — we have to improve the structures in and around the club,” Ten Hag said recently, before making his intentions clear of what he hoped was to come. “And we will also look to the window in January or next summer already.”
Have Your Say! Is this Man Utd's strongest squad since Sir Alex Ferguson retired ? Tell us what you think here.
As outlined by The Athletic however, United are unwilling to spend further in January after overseeing a greater spend than anticipated this summer. The early season defeats against Brighton and Brentford prompted the club to back the boss with late signings which they felt were urgent.
However, club policy at United has been against making moves in January due to the nature of the market, valuation of players and difficulty of concluding deals. The major exception to this was in 2020, when Bruno Fernandes was signed from Sporting CP in a summer that also saw Odion Ighalo join on a loan deal.
The club did not sign any player in January last season, while Luis Diaz, Dejan Kulusevski, Dusan Vlahovic, Ferran Torres, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Julian Alvarez were among those who joined top European clubs that month. It appears likely that once again United will have a quiet January transfer window, although a change of heart should the right be players become available should not be ruled out.
