19 December 2023 , 16:32
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Manchester United chief Collette Roche has confessed that they "are not expecting it to be particularly busy" during the January transfer window.
Erik ten Hag spent £185million in the summer with Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Andre Onana as his three main arrivals. He added further new faces despite being limited by Financial Fair Play restrictions, but that could prove to be his lot this season.
United are wary of the threats that come with breaching FFP and no major arrivals are expected despite the club struggling so far this term and in need of a spark. Deficiencies in their squad have been exposed but the club are more focused on potential exits.
Chief operating officer Roche told the Fans Forum last week: "Looking ahead to the January transfer window, we are not expecting it to be particularly busy. There will always be the possibility of deals around the edges of the squad, particularly in terms of finding opportunities for players who are not playing as much football as they would like.
"However, we’ve always been consistent in saying that we do not see January as the optimal time to do business and our recruitment strategy remains focused on summer windows.
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"We’ve seen this season that Financial Fair Play rules have real teeth, so we have to be very careful to ensure that we remain compliant, and we will. But that means being really disciplined on spending going forward, with a balance between incomings and outgoings."
The club want to resolve Jadon Sancho's future sooner rather than later (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)Finding suitors for Donny van de Beek and, particularly, Jadon Sancho is understood to be a main focus. The Dutchman has never been able to establish himself in Manchester and is closing in on a loan move to Frankfurt, who will be able to make his switch a permanent one.
Sancho meanwhile has been frozen out at Old Trafford and there appears to be no way back for him under Ten Hag, who has cast the player aside following a post he made on Twitter. The winger cost United £72m back in 2021 but they will now seek a buyer for him.
Saudi Arabia has been touted as a potential destination but the majority of their clubs are unlikely to spend huge sums until the summer, which could see the civil war drag on further. Casemiro, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial have also been linked with moves away.