ERIK TEN HAG has had a swipe at FFP rules after failing to bring in anyone new in the January transfer window.
The manager instead was trimming his squad offloading 13 mostly fringe players.
GettyErik ten Hag was critical of FFP after United failed to make a signing in January[/caption]
Ten Hag has spent around £410million since taking charge but has only one recognised fit striker in Rasmus Hojlund.
And he could not find the money due to FFP restrictions to get a new one last month.
He used mainly the loan market to reduce the club’s wage bill as they juggled their figures.
But the Manchester United boss said the strict rules that can lead to point deductions are hampering him building a United team.
Ten Hag said: “It is not a secret – I wanted a striker, and because of the injury to Martial, we don’t really have the back-up. It was not possible because we have to meet the FFP rules.
“There are some disadvantages with FFP. To make space for FFP you actually have to sell players – you have to sell good players and I don’t think that is the way you build a team.”
This time last year Ten Hag brought in both Marcel Sabitzer and Wout Weghorst on loan to bolster his squad for the second-half of the season but there were no such moves this time.
The club instead saw Donny van de Beek, Jadon Sancho, Hannibal Mejbri, Alvaro Fernandez, Facundo Pellistri, Joe Hugill, Maxi Oyedele, Rhys Bennett, Dan Gore, Radek Vitek, Isak Hansen-Aaroen and Sonny Aljofree leave either on loan or permanent in January.
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Ten Hag is at least getting some players back from injury.
Casemiro and Luke Shaw have both made welcome returns as has Lisandro Martinez.
There were fears for him when his foot was strapped with an ice pack after coming off late in the game at Wolves on Thursday but it is not thought to be serious.
One player who remains sidelined, however, is Mason Mount.
The £55.6million buy from Chelsea suffered a hamstring injury at the start of the season and has not played since injuring his calf in the game against Luton on November 11.
Ten Hag said: “I think he has been struggling from the second game of the season and then he returned for a whole period then he picks up another injury and of course that’s not great. It’s very frustrating for him.
“I want to be there for him because he had such high expectations and I had high expectations for him.
“I’m sure he will be a very good player for us but first of all what’s important is that we have to get him fit and secure the process step by step.
“I won’t force it and hopefully by the end of the season he can stay fit and find himself in the team more.”
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