26 January 2024 , 06:00
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Premier League clubs are afraid of spending heavily this January with all of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool yet to welcome a new signing.
There is now just a week remaining of the January window and there has been a real lack of standout deals. The biggest move so far has seen Tottenham spend £25m on Radu Dragusin from Genoa, while Ange Postecoglou’s side have also swooped for Timo Werner on-loan.
That is in huge contrast to last January where Premier League clubs spent a record amount. Chelsea broke the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez. Liverpool were busy as they signed Cody Gakpo, with Arsenal also spending around £70m on a host of new additions.
With FFP and Profit & Sustainability spending limits starting to pinch, clubs are approaching the current window with ‘fear’, according to the Daily Mail. Everton have already been hit with a 10-point deduction for spending beyond their means, while Nottingham Forest are facing similar charges.
Elsewhere, clubs now do not want to spend heavily on players that are simply not worth it. That is a sentiment that is echoed on the boards of Premier League sides, with Manchester United in particular keen to get themselves back on track after years of misguided spending.
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“One bad window, can impact three years of freedom,” a top-flight chief is quoted by the Daily Mail. “Clubs want to be better run but also clubs are having to be better run.
“When Omar Berrada arrives at Manchester United he won't need to be a forensic scientist to work out that their transfer strategy has been questionable. Never mind the inflated fee for Antony, why would you allow David de Gea to leave after he has agreed a pay cut and replace him with a goalkeeper who is arguably not as good for £43.7m plus wages?”
Kalvin Phillips is set to seal a move away from Manchester City (Getty Images)Who has been the stand-out signing so far this window? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Meanwhile a word of caution about FFP has also been discussed among recruitment teams. Another director said: “Financial fair play, or 'fit for purpose' as we like to call it, is definitely a factor. We have seen a lot of windows in the past that haven't had much by way of quality supply but that hasn't stopped business from being brisk.
“If we reflect through previous windows it's crazy how many poor players have moved. Demand has been stymied by financial checks and balances. More clubs now are trying to move away from ad hoc transfers and work to a strategy.”
Both spending limits and a lack of value in the January window could see Premier League clubs spend what could be the lowest amount for years. Despite that, there could still be a few potential deals in the pipeline.
Kalvin Phillips is on the verge of joining West Ham on loan from Premier League rivals Manchester City. Man Utd are also on the hunt for a forward, with Joshua Zirkzee and Brian Brobbey among their targets.