Gary Neville on how the January transfer window has changed

Premier League January spending dropped from £465m in 2018 to just £140m in 2019

Gary Neville believes the January transfer window has become “stuck” as a result of inflated fees which have deterred clubs from buying and selling players.

Premier League January spending dropped from £465m in 2018 to just £140m in 2019, as a number of clubs passed on the opportunity to splash out.

Only seven top-flight clubs spent in the window while Tottenham made history after becoming the first Premier League side not to bring in a single player for a second successive transfer window.

Addressing this year’s lack of transfer activity, Neville said clubs are now being priced out of the market due to inflation.

Neville said: “We asked this week: 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?

“But 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.

“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 someways.”

Neville also suggested that, in some cases, it is easier for clubs to sack their manager than reinforce their squad.

“I think certain clubs will always try and panic. But the panic now doesn’t actually 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!”