Despite the Dutchman's request to sign a new full-back, no new additions in January mean supporters are stuck with more of the same
Manchester United’s involvement in the January transfer window was about as negligible as their chances of being a key player in this year’s Premier League title race.
Ten years on from Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra arrived, and two years after Juan Mata was helicoptered in, United came up empty in much the same way they have on the pitch for much of this term.
Despite fans asking for big-ticket signings to make a statement and Louis van Gaal himself admitting there was a need to bring in a full-back after a spate of injuries this term, the winter window stayed closed. And the period of inactivity was thrown into immense focus on deadline day when Pep Guardiola’s switch to neighbours City was confirmed.
Plans to sign Felipe Anderson from Lazio quickly hit a roadblock which proved instantly insurmountable, and United made no further effort to improve any area of their side. As a result, their squad continues to look thin.
Meanwhile, their options in the dug-out have been narrowed down too by Guardiola’s decision to head to City. Van Gaal is still being backed to the hilt by United, but there appears little prospect of the Dutchman remaining in charge to see out another transfer window given his side’s form this term.
Van Gaal will be forced to battle through the rest of the season in the face of long-term lay-offs for Luke Shaw, Antonio Valencia and Marcos Rojo, while Bastian Schweinsteiger’s recent knee injury has shown up a lack of depth in midfield. The paucity of firepower reflected by the club’s worst goal return in Premier League history also says much about the need for something more in attack.
Unsurprisingly, there were loan exits for Victor Valdes to Standard Liege and Nick Powell to Hull City will end both players’ spells at Old Trafford due to their contracts expiring in the summer, with Valdes in particular pleased to be out of Manchester after his nightmare experience under Van Gaal.
But it was always going to be incomings rather than outgoings that would pique the interest of the fans starved of something to cheer about for so long.
After an underwhelming month in the market, United fans are facing up to another four months at least of the same fare they have been served up under Van Gaal to date.
Only now they will have to put up with it against the backdrop of the exciting future plans being drawn up across the city.
- Goal