Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho does not expect January transfer window activity

Mourinho recently claimed United's level of spending is 'not enough' to compete with City

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Friday 29 December 2017 20:25 GMT
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Romelu Lukaku was Manchester United's marquee summer signing
Romelu Lukaku was Manchester United's marquee summer signing (Getty)

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Jose Mourinho does not expect Manchester United to enter the transfer market in the upcoming January window, despite his recent claim that the club must spend more to compete with rivals Manchester City.

After Boxing Day's 2-2 draw with Burnley at Old Trafford, Mourinho said United's level of spending was “not enough” to challenge City, who currently sit 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Mourinho was backed by United during the summer as Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof were signed for a combined total £146m, bringing the total outlay on players since his appointment in the summer of 2016 to approximately £290m.

Even so, injuries in several positions – especially central defence and central midfield – have tested the depth of Mourinho's squad this season and left him in need of reinforcements.

Up front, meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku has played every minute of every league match while back-up Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to feel the effects of a long-term knee injury.

However, when asked on Friday whether United will enter the winter market, Mourinho simply said: “I don’t think, I don’t think.”

The Portuguese also insisted on Friday that he feels he has the support of the club's hierarchy and, after the expensive acquisitions of Paul Pogba and Lukaku in the past two years, he expects a third major signing at the end of the current campaign.

“Please, don’t misinterpret my words, don’t say my club doesn’t support or doesn’t want to spend,” the United manager said. “Two years my club paid lot of money for Paul, last summer paid a lot of money for Lukaku.

“I’m pretty sure next year is going to pay a lot of money for one player but we are doing these things with some balance because it’s the profile of the club. We do it with some balance.”

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