Louis van Gaal only brought in Victor Valdes to improve the first team at Old Trafford…
Manchester United have ended the January transfer window having brought in three players in Victor Valdes, Andy Kellett, and Sadiq El Fitouri.
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When compared to the deals that rivals Arsenal, Chelsea, Southampton and Manchester City made, these three moves are not enough to make sure that the Red Devils stay in the top four come the end of the season. In Gabriel Paulista, Juan Cuadrado, Eljero Elia, and Wilfried Bony all four have respectively improved their squads in important positions, setting them up for a strong second half of the campaign.
Meanwhile Louis van Gaal has brought in two players who will be largely used in the Under-21 squad, in Kellett and El Fitouri. Their one senior arrival – Valdes – is in a position where they already have one of the best in the world with David De Gea, so he will surely only be a back up. With the club already being criticised for failing to excite fans in recent weeks this could be a significant missed opportunity for the Old Trafford side.
One position that they seriously needed to add to was at centre-back, and with no players coming in to the squad for that role they may have to rely on the likes of Tyler Blackett and Paddy McNair for a while longer. The performances of the young defenders over the last six months have not been awful, but they are not of the standard required of a top four side. United will have to hope that De Gea continues his brilliant form if they want to keep up their solid defensive record.
So overall, Louis van Gaal may regret not strengthening more in this window. The manner in which his top four rivals have brought quality in to their squads means that the 63-year-old may come to regret this inaction come May.