Erik ten Hag makes admission about prospect of Man Utd loan signings in January transfer window

Erik ten Hag failed to rule out the possibility of Manchester United bringing in any players on loan in the January window.

The Dutchman has been firm on his stance that permanent transfers are unlikely this month due to the club’s financial picture and the difficult nature of completing significant moves during the season. That’s in addition to the complex situation surrounding decision making at Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to take over the reins of the football operations once his purchase of a partial stake in the club is confirmed.

But Ten Hag was less resolute when asked about the prospect of loan signings coming in this January. “We consider everything, what is in the best interest of the players and in the best interest of us, the team, Manchester United,” he said after the FA Cup win over Wigan Athletic on Monday. “So we will see how it progresses in the window.”

United are short on numbers at present due to injury, illness and other absences, and 13 senior players were unavailable for the win over Wigan. As a result, Ten Hag named a bench at the DW Stadium that included two goalkeepers, three players who hadn’t represented the senior team and Willy Kambwala, who had played once before.

United have already freed up some space on the wage bill this month with Sergio Reguilon heading back to Tottenham Hotspur and Donny van de Beek joining Eintracht Frankfurt on loan. Jadon Sancho is also expected to join Borussia Dortmund on a short-term deal, while Hannibal and Facundo Pellistri could also head out on loan this window.

Five departures from the squad may leave United with more wiggle room to make additions on an interim basis in the market, an approach the club employed last season when Jack Butland, Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst arrived in January.