Ralf Rangnick reveals Man Utd board blocked three January transfers – including Luis Diaz
Manchester United chiefs, according to Ralf Rangnick, ruined their Champions League prospects by failing to sign a striker in January.
Interim manager Ragnick revealed that he informed United’s board of directors about the need to recruit a striker before the transfer deadline, but that the board advised him that a deal was not possible.
Rangnick had identified three strikers – Luis Diaz, Julian Alvarez, and Dusan Vlahovic – who United could have acquired if the board had opted to go for it.
With Anthony Martial on loan at Sevilla, Mason Greenwood sidelined, and Edinson Cavani unpredictable in terms of fitness, Rangnick believes United needed another striker.
“We should have tried to sign a player in the 48 hours we had, since we knew Mason wouldn’t be available and Anthony had already left on loan.
“We were also aware Edinson might not be available for eight out of 10 games, but we didn’t do it. There were a few: Diaz, who is now at Liverpool; Alvarez, who will be at Manchester City in the summer; and Vlahovic, who at the time was still with Fiorentina.
“The answer was ‘no’ and that was it. I spoke to the board and told them ‘shouldn’t we at least speak and analyse and find if we can at least get a player, on loan or a permanent deal?’
“In the end the answer was ‘no’. Maybe they didn’t want to do any winter business. Maybe we should have at least discussed it internally, because it might be necessary and important. It would have been short notice anyway but still, 48 hours is 48 hours. It might have been at least worth a try. But we didn’t and it wasn’t done.”
Because of the short timeline, United were hesitant to recruit a striker. They didn’t want to sign a forward since they knew a new permanent manager will arrive in the summer and might not want that player.
Because of the dearth of forward alternatives, the Old Trafford leadership believed they had five or six players capable of playing through the middle, including Jesse Lingard, who was stopped from leaving on loan to stay as protection.
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Ralf Rangnick reveals Man Utd board blocked three January transfers – including Luis Diaz
