Ten Hag will have to make do with what he currently has at his disposal (Picture: Getty)
Erik ten Hag has admitted Manchester United are unlikely to make any signings when the January transfer window opens next month.
United brought in seven new players during the summer transfer window in Mason Mount, Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund, Altay Bayindir with Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat arriving on loan from Tottenham and Fiorentina respectively.
Jonny Evans also returned to the club on a free transfer after leaving Old Trafford in 2015.
The club spent £180million on their signings but United have endured a miserable campaign, already 12 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and sat bottom of their Champions League group with just one game remaining.
Ten Hag is coming under mounting pressure after a difficult week but with the club contending with financial fair play constraints and an imminent minority takeover led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a mid-season spending spree is unlikely.
Asked by the United We Stand fanzine if there will be any new signings in January, ten Hag said: ’I don’t think so — and if so, the approach from United should be that if you can improve your team, then you should do.
‘What we expect from every player coming to Carrington every day is for them to give their maximum, to give their best.
Ten Hag under pressure at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)
‘As a club, you have to look for improvements, so if you can find better and it’s realistic financially and with financial fair play, I think the club has to go with it.
‘But realistically, in relation to the market, most of the time you don’t attract the best players in the winter.
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‘The top, top players will not leave their clubs in the winter. It’s players who are disappointed, injured or just not the right fit or whatever.’
Another forward, a centre-half and a central midfielder are among the areas United are keen to strengthen but ten Hag will likely have to wait until end of the season before making major additions.
Asked how many players he feels he’s short of to have a team that could win the league, Ten Hag replied: ‘We have to develop and progress this team. In reality, we go to the next summer window and there will be new players coming in.’
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United signed seven players in the summer. Are more to follow?