Why EPL clubs did not do transfers in January

Garry Neville has explained why big Premier League clubs did not intensively participate in the January transfer window.

Arsenal signed Dennis Suarez on loan from Barcelona while Tottenham Hotspurs, Manchester United and Manchester City all did not sign any player at all. Chelsea saw the exit of Alvaro Morata and his direct replacement was Gonzalo Higuain. Neville said the inactivity by the giants was that they did not see any preferable target in the market. Arsenal was expected to sign defenders but ended up not doing so despite the glaring need for one.

“We asked this week: Are we surprised that Arsenal didn’t bring in a defender? Are we surprised Tottenham didn’t bring in a replacement for Kane, or anybody? But the problem is, they can’t get the players available. They cannot get them. Honestly, it’s a real issue. Clubs are not letting go for normal prices, and clubs are now thinking: Do I go and pay over the odds in January? Am I going to get the player I want? I genuinely believed Arsenal would have strengthened more than they have done if they believed something was available.” Neville explained.

Man United was understood that they too wanted a central defender during the summer but failed to land their top targets that were Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire and Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane. None of them was available even in the short winter transfer window. Neville says that the ‘market is stuck’ in some ways.

“Would Manchester United have brought in Raphael Varane, or Harry Maguire for example, if they believed they were available for decent prices in this transfer window? One hundred per cent they would. Would Manchester City have brought in a left-back, the one they wanted? Of course, they would. But they’re not there, they can’t get them! They would have tried, asked the question, made the noises underneath with the agents and the scouting departments, but they’re just not there. It’s a real problem, the market is stuck in some ways,” he added.

The former Man United fullback added that the available players might not have been the right ones but their asking prices were high again.

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