• Premier League

Woodward casts doubt on January spending

ESPN staff
September 10, 2014
Louis van Gaal should not expect money to spend in January but United project a top-three finish © Getty Images
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Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has warned that he is not expecting to spend big in January after bringing in six signings over the summer.

Manager Louis van Gaal was allowed to bring in Radamel Falcao, Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Marcos Rojo but has failed to win a match so far as United manager.

The club has been linked with a January move for Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman, who has been out injured since March with a cruciate ligament injury.

But Woodward, announcing record revenue for United despite a disastrous season under David Moyes, tempered expectations.

"I wouldn't have expectations for January," said Woodward. "But if there is a willingness from the manager, we will engage with him and if there an opportunity, we will try and take that as we did last year with January [when they signed Juan Mata for a then club-record fee]."

Woodward also revealed that United's projection of £390m-£395m revenue this season is based around finishing third in the Premier League.

Last season, under Moyes, United finished seventh, missing out on European football for the first time in 25 years.

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