The transfer window slams shut at 11pm UK time on Tuesday 31st January. Many Manchester United fans will be wondering if the club will be doing business as Erik ten Hag is desperate to add to his squad.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Reading game, ten Hag said that he would like to add reinforcements to his squad and that is understandable because United are light in midfield, with Donny van de Beek out for the rest of the season and United are still waiting on the extent of Christian Eriksen’s injury after he was seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches.
“In the coming days, if we had the opportunity I would go for it but that’s not also up to me, that’s also clear,” said Ten Hag. “I think this club always has to have the approach that every day you have to get better so if there are opportunities to get better then you have to strike.
“That’s my approach so I’m looking around, to research but I have an idea with which profiles we could strengthen the squad” [via The Mirror].
Christian Eriksen leaving Old Trafford on crutches [@xiw4n] pic.twitter.com/2T6x0uy10v
— utdreport (@utdreport) January 28, 2023
However, The Athletic’s David Ornstein writing on his Monday column said that “United remain unlikely to make any further additions this month beyond signing Wout Weghorst on loan” [The Athletic].
The key word is “remain”, which suggests that there is still a chance that United might add in another body, but that will be dependent on Eriksen’s injury.
If Eriksen’s injury is serious, then it is vital that United attempt to sign a midfielder because ten Hag’s side have a lot of games to navigate and are the only English team who are still in all four competitions, so the Reds will need strength in depth to cover those matches.
If United do sign a player, then it will be on a loan deal as the Glazer family do not have any money to invest in Manchester United because in the summer, you could argue that United overspent, which is down to the reluctance of the Glazer family to do deals quickly and decisively.