Erik ten Hag may boast of his trophy haul during his tumultuous tenure at Manchester United, but it’s hard to argue that he got his recruitment right. The Dutch manager was given just over two years in charge and a war chest of more than £600million, yet he failed to transform the Red Devils into title contenders. Instead, after an encouraging first year, his signings seemed to drag the team backwards.
Ruben Amorim has now been left with a squad filled with high-priced players on substantial wages who have failed to live up to their price tags. The most damning indictment of Ten Hag’s transfer dealings is that several of his acquisitions are already being shipped out.
Andre Onana looks set to be the next player allowed to leave, albeit on loan, following several of his team-mates who have already been deemed surplus to requirements.
Ten Hag fought tooth and nail for some of these signings, with Antony being a prime example. The Dutchman was willing to splash out £81m to bring the Brazilian to Old Trafford as his star signing.
Fast forward two years, and he’s already been sold for less than a third of his initial fee.
Amorim has spent the summer splashing out more than £200m on his attack, bringing in talents like Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo. This comes despite vast sums already being spent on a squad that was one of the lowest-scoring in the Premier League last season.
We examine all of Ten Hag’s permanent signings and rank them, which reveals a concerning picture for United’s recruitment.
1. Lisandro Martinez
In his first season, the Argentine silenced many critics who had concerns about his height, especially in England. Technically gifted, Martinez clinched the World Cup within months of transferring from Ajax, where he had worked with Ten Hag.
Despite injuries limiting his consistent play, he has proven to be the most successful recent signing when given a good run of games.
2. Leny Yoro
Partly based on his potential, despite some challenging moments, the French centre-back has generally appeared quite accomplished. He experienced a swift rise at Lille in his home country and received numerous accolades.
He has established himself as a regular in the team and, considering his age, seems poised to develop into an impressive defender.
The fact that Juventus and Bayern Munich let him go was viewed as a warning sign, and the Dutch defender certainly didn’t resemble the player we saw at Ajax years ago, but he has started to find his feet. Like Yoro, he has secured a regular starting position this year and is perhaps only ranked this high due to the shortcomings of those below him.
4. Mason Mount
Had this been implemented before the season’s commencement, the former Chelsea player would be ranked much lower. However, he seems to be adapting well to Amorim’s system, having been given ample opportunities at the start of the season.
Mount has previously thrived in a similar system with the Blues, and his creative instincts could see him playing a significant role in the final third – a necessity considering his hefty price tag.
5. Noussair Mazraoui
Mazraoui, who followed De Ligt from Bayern, is another squad member who played under Ten Hag before being brought to Manchester. The Moroccan hasn’t made a significant impact yet, but he’s had some challenging assignments, including playing as a 10 against Fenerbahce.
His relatively low transfer fee, however, means the club can absorb the loss.
6. Tyrell Malacia
Malacia’s story is somewhat familiar. The full-back joined early in the Ten Hag era and, while he hasn’t set the world alight, he hasn’t done much wrong either.
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This is largely due to an injury record that has seen him spend more time off the pitch than on it. Malacia cost the club just over £14m, a loss they can accept if the signing doesn’t pan out.
7. Manuel Ugarte
The Uruguayan, who previously played under Amorim at Sporting Lisbon, has struggled to make an impact since the Portuguese coach’s arrival. Despite his impressive stats at PSG before his move to United, he’s been unable to replicate that form.
His aggressive style hasn’t helped his cause and he’s spent more time on the bench than on the pitch this season.
8. Altay Bayindir
Despite starting all three Premier League matches this season, the Turkish goalkeeper made a significant error leading to a loss against Arsenal in the opening weekend. Bayindir had his finest moment when United knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup last year, but he’s also had some embarrassing moments, including being beaten directly from a corner.
However, for a mere £4.3m, he wasn’t expected to revolutionise the team.
9. Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee was reportedly signed by former chief Dan Ashworth, not Ten Hag. His stint in Manchester is perhaps best remembered for the wrong reasons – the Dutchman was substituted off after just 33 minutes in a December match, with his own fans cheering his departure.
His promising season at Bologna caught United’s attention, but he managed only three league goals and isn’t seen as the solution up front.
10. Casemiro
Some might highlight the immediate positive impact he made after his transfer from Real Madrid in 2022. Indeed, he did help secure the Carabao Cup, but his hefty wages and lengthy contract were always going to pose a problem.
Casemiro’s performances have plummeted since his first year and United are struggling to find a buyer. His speed has diminished with age and United’s midfield only includes two players, making the role even more challenging for him.
11. Andre Onana
Now set for a loan move to Trabzonspor where he’ll double his salary, concerns about the Cameroonian were clear when he somehow avoided a VAR review on his debut when a penalty should’ve been awarded. His performances were consistently riddled with mistakes and he hasn’t improved United’s game as Ten Hag had hoped when he let David de Gea go to sign his former Ajax goalkeeper.
Amorim has benched him before – and will now spend the year without him.
12. Rasmus Hojlund
Another acquisition where the warning signs were apparent from the get-go. Yes, Hojlund had shone at Atalanta, but splashing out £74m to bring him to Manchester was always a gamble.
The signing was made with the understanding that he would develop, but this hasn’t happened. It took him months to net his first league goal and, at 22, leading the United line was always going to be a daunting task. He’s already been sent out on loan.
13. Antony
It’s clear that despite being the second most expensive United player in history, his performances were underwhelming. Apart from a debut goal against Arsenal, he had few shining moments in a red shirt.
For such a hefty price tag, consistent delivery is expected, which he failed to provide. While he has shown promise in Spain, it’s evident that the environment at United wasn’t for him. His ranking among the biggest flops of all-time is likely warranted.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk