Man Utd and Arsenal failed to land January targets due to abnormal transfer fees, says Gary Neville
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PREMIER LEAGUE clubs were left "stuck" during the January transfer window, according to Gary Neville.
The Manchester United legend claimed a host of clubs would have brought in reinforcements but were left stranded by the current market.
United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City in particular were hoping to bring in new faces to bolster weak spots in their squad last month.
Despite the demand, only £140million was spent by Prem sides in January 2019, compared to £465m a year earlier.
Explaining the lack of spending, Neville said: "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?
"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 went on to say the transfer market is "stuck" and it's a real problem for clubs.
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He added: "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."
Neville went on to say clubs refused to "panic buy" this year - as it's easier to sack the boss than engineer a total squad overhaul.
The ex-England man said: "I think certain clubs will always try and panic. But the panic now doesn't centre around buying, it's usually centred around the manager.
"What they normally do now is change the manager... clubs can do it twice in a season.
"For clubs at the bottom, a change of players will cost them money, they could end up with a group of players who won't suit them if they go down.
"And it's the same at the top; is Daniel Levy going to panic to get in the Champions League, or win the league?
Does Levy buying four players for £100m guarantee you the league? No, and he's probably not even going to get the players he wants!
"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United would have bought a couple of centre-halves if he could have got them, and Arsenal would have done the same.
"All the top teams would have bought in positions they need. But they can't get them."