Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Manchester United will not enter the transfer market for a striker this month as the club due to Financial Fair Play restrictions, despite what he laments as a “Gap in our squad”.
Manchester United Will Not Sign A Striker Until The Summer
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Forward Woes
The news that the club won’t be able to engineer a January move for a striker to support Rasmus Hojlund will come as no surprise to Manchester United fans, but the exasperation will be even greater given the news that Anthony Martial will be out until April after surgery on a groin injury amid the Red Devils’ struggles in front of goal.
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With just 24 goals in 21 Premier League games this season, Ten Hag’s side have scored the joint-fourth fewest goals in the division despite an xG of 30.22 , underperforming by 6.22 goals, the joint-third biggest underperformance in the league. This points to a lack of attacking structure and is further illustrated when looking at the list of goalscorers. Just 10 of their 24 strikes have come from forwards, with midfielder Scott McTominay heading up the goalscoring charts with five.
The Importance of FFP
The Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules dictate that each club may only make a £105 million loss over a three-year period. This can be offset with cash injections from club owners but, as The Glazer family have not invested any of their own money since 2005, United’s limit remains at the aforementioned amount and leaves far less margin for error in terms of buying and selling players.
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Despite the bleak prospect of a January window without significant incomings, the summer should herald the start of brighter days for the club. With Jim Ratcliffe now calling the shots of footballing operations at the club and in the process of recruiting elite operators to facilitate the club’s structural overhaul, Manchester United fans will hope this winter will be the last transfer window of disappointment.
