Manchester United are unlikely to add to their star-studded squad in the January transfer market, according to vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
The club spent just over £150million in the summer window to recruit star names including World Cup runners-up Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo.
Woodward, alongside David Moyes, was heavily criticised for his transfer dealings in 2013 but is adamant the club will not make any panic buys.
“We are not looking to enter the market for short-term fixes,” said Woodward, who was involved in the big money deals to bring in Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata during Moyes’ reign at the club.
“However, we have targets we are looking at for next summer. Should any of them become available in January which is obviously rare, we will consider acting. But it is a low probability.”
The news came on the day that United posted a 9.9% fall in revenue to £88.7million for the three months to the end of September.
The vice-chairman said that the 2014/15 financial results would reflect United’s ‘absence from the Champions League’.
Due to their non-involvement in Europe’s elite competition for the first time in two decades broadcasting and match-day revenues both fell.
Despite the announcement one player who might be joining United is former Barcelona keeper and free agent Victor Valdes.
The three-time Champions League winner has been training with Louis van Gaal’s side in recent weeks and would provide strong competition for David De Gea.
However the 24-year-old Spaniard, who dislocated his finger on international duty this week, does not believe Valdes’ possible arrival signals the end of his time at United.
“My contract runs out in 2016. But they didn’t sign him for that,” De Gea told AS.
“Van Gaal knows him well because he gave Victor his debut at Barcelona and has a special affiliation with him.”
The 32-year-old keeper hasn’t returned to full training as he continues to recover from a knee injury which saw him side-lined during the final months of his 12-year spell in the Barcelona first team.
With Valdes yet to register for the club, Anders Lindegaard will deputise for the injured De Gea against Arsenal this Saturday.
Main image courtesy of Jonny Blair via YouTube, with thanks.
