Sir Jim Ratcliffe just sent biggest Man United transfer message yet after unforgivable decision

Ineos, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ruben Amorim took a gamble during the January transfer window and that has already backfired.

Allowing Antony and Marcus Rashford to leave the club was understandable, particularly considering their issues at the club. The Brazilian did not fit the system and the Englishman did not fit Amorim's image.

However, what has proven to be unforgivable is the decision not to bring in reinforcements to replace them. United's hierarchy will point to the unlucky nature of their current predicament but Ineos should have done their due diligence.

Even before the injuries it was clear that United had a wafer-thin squad for the remainder of the campaign, with quality severely lacking. Now, after a week of illness and injury, United have been reduced to their bare-bones.

Only Victor Lindelof was a senior player on the United bench this weekend against Tottenham Hotspur with the rest made up of academy players. Chido Obi and Jack Fletcher were among the players who have been tipped for call-ups to the senior squad but they should not have been thrust onto the bench en masse.

This should be a clear signal to Ratcliffe that Amorim needs the backing of a chequebook and new recruits in the summer. It will be six months too late for the Reds' head coach but at least it will end the reliance on youngsters next season, allowing them to be introduced patiently into the first team set-up.

The decision not to invest in January appears to have backfired wildly and that call lies firmly at the feet of Ineos. In the summer, they have the chance to redeem themselves but such poor planning will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Subscribe to our brilliant app for the best way to enjoy the M.E.N's unrivalled Manchester United