Erik ten Hag gives Man Utd transfer update on deadline day following Christian Eriksen injury

Erik ten Hag has admitted it will be ‘difficult’ for Manchester United to complete any late signings on transfer deadline day, despite the disappointing injury news on Christian Eriksen.

The Red Devils announced on Tuesday that the midfielder looks set to miss the majority of the rest of the season following a rash tackle from Andy Carroll in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Reading. In a statement, the club said: “Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen is expected to be out of action for an extended period because of an ankle injury sustained in our Emirates FA Cup victory over Reading on Saturday.

“While investigations are continuing, initial assessments indicate that Eriksen is likely to be out until late April or early May.”

It leaves United with just four senior midfielders for the second half of the campaign, in Casemiro, Fred, Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes. Despite that, Ten Hag said it looks unlikely that the Red Devils will be able to add reinforcements in the final hours of the window.

“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 also have players who can fill the gap.

“I think you can never fill that [gap] because every player has his own characteristics and identity. Another player will always fill it in in a different way but it doesn’t mean you have to be less successful,” Ten Hag added.

“It’s quite clear Christian Eriksen, for our squad, brings top quality to our squad and he has some specifics that are hard to replace, such as his impacts in the final third with his final ball. Of course, he’s disappointed, we are disappointed, but it happens in top football. It shouldn’t have happened but it did and you have to deal with it.”