Erik ten Hag says Man United will try to sign a replacement for Christian Eriksen in this transfer window, but it is unlikely.
It was confirmed minutes before the press that Eriksen’s ankle injury is serious and that he is not expected to return to action before the end of April or beginning of May.
This leaves United, who have also lost Donny van de Beek until the end of the season, desperately short of central midfield reinforcements, with only Casemiro, Fred and Scott McTominay standing.
And speaking at the press conference ahead of tomorrow’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with Nottingham Forest, Ten Hag confirmed:
“On deadline day, it’s tough. You can’t do politics on such serious injuries. But we have players, good player, we have players who can fill that void.
“But Christian Eriksen, he’s hard to replace. The final ball.
“We have a strategy. I think we are developing as a club, as a team, we are making the right progress. We are in a good direction, but it has to coincide with our financial frameworks. We have to stick to the strategy.”
“Of course he is disappointed by that, we are disappointed by that. But he passes in elite football. We preferred it (not) to happen, but it did and you have to deal with it.”
Ten Hag was also asked about outgoing moves like Anthony Elanga and Brandon Williams.
“It could be, but it depends on certain circumstances,” he said.
“If so, it would probably be loans.”
United fans will be angry that the club’s owners have been unwilling to sanction a deal in this most extraordinary crisis with United fighting on four fronts.
