Fergie cool on January deals
United manager doubts the quality of player available mid-season
Sir Alex Ferguson: Manchester United manager has no plans to make any signings in January
Sir Alex Ferguson has reiterated his stance that Manchester United are unlikely to make any January signings following the club's UEFA Champions League elimination.
United's shock defeat by Basel in midweek dumped last season's Champions League runners-up into the Europa League and prompted renewed speculation that Ferguson will seek to address any shortcomings in his squad.
A creative midfielder has been demanded by many Red Devils fans, while the loss of captain Nemanja Vidic for the rest of the season due to injury has led to reports Ferguson could try to stiffen up his defence in the New Year.
However, the long-serving United boss is concerned about the quality of player available in January and currently has no plans to improve his options.
"It is very difficult to buy players in January," said Ferguson.
"You don't just want to buy any player simply because it gives you another one. You want to buy someone who can make a difference.
"We have only had maybe four or five signings in my time here in January - Louis Saha, Andy Cole,Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra [and Diego Forlan]. It is not a consistent route for us simply because of all the disadvantages.
"I am not quite sure if you went for a player if he could play in the Europa League. There is criteria there in the sense of playing in the Champions League and whether they could play in the Europa League.
"There are a lot of issues there but there is nothing in my mind at the moment."
Evra and Vidic were signed by United the last time the club failed to progress beyond the Champions League group phase in 2005/06 and Ferguson explained the reasoning behind those buys.
"At the time we were looking to get players in who were important in certain positions," said Ferguson.
"After Denis Irwin retired it was very difficult to get a left-back with quality. Patrice was the one we identified.
"Nemanja is a lad I went to see in Paris three or four years before that when he played for Serbia against France.
"But they played with three centre-backs and I was unable to really get a feel that he could play in a back four.
"He went to Russia and played in a back four there, so we knew there wouldn't be a problem and decided to go for him."
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11667/7365281/Fergie-cool-on-January-deals
