Erik ten Hag has ruled out new arrivals at Manchester United on deadline day and has discussed Chelsea’s spending this month.
United have conducted minimal business during the January transfer window in comparison to several Premier League rivals, bringing in Jack Butland and Wout Weghorst on loan deals until the end of the season.
Premier League clubs elsewhere have spent significant sums, with Chelsea the highest spenders after a record-breaking winter window. The west Londoners have spent more than £200m on new additions and are chasing a British transfer record deal for Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez before the deadline.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final with Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag discussed his side’s recruitment and said the Red Devils are focused on their own strategy in the transfer market.
“I can’t talk for other clubs, I’m talking for our club. We have a strategy, so we keep the strategy where we want to go. We want to restore Manchester United to where they belong,” Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference.
“We are in a good direction and it also has to match our financial frames. We started the season, we keep consistent to that plan, to that strategy and we are developing as a club, we are developing as a squad in the way of play.
“You see also the results in the process, we make the right progress, we have to keep the process going and keep improving every day.”
Ten Hag was asked whether he would look to add a midfielder before the deadline, after Christian Eriksen was ruled out until late April. The Dutchman believes late business would be difficult and has backed Fred to replace Eriksen in the side.
“As you said, on deadline day it’s difficult, you can’t make policy on such bad injuries. But we have players in the midfield department. good players. We have players who can fill the gap.
“I think you mentioned already he’s (Fred) playing together with Casemiro in the Brazil squad, there’s not a worse squad in the world, they have so many choices they can make, but they play together and that tells something about the quality Fred has and what he can contribute to the team.
“You see against Tottenham and Man City, when he’s coming on last game he scores a goal, he has a lot of qualities, and they’re a good combination, Casemiro and Fred.”
