BREAKING: Erik ten Hag RETURNED back to OLD TRAFFORD as Manchester United new manager Ruben Amorim appoints Ten Hag as one of his assistant manager (READ FULL STORYđ)
BREAKING: Erik ten Hag RETURNED back to OLD TRAFFORD as Manchester United new manager Ruben Amorim appoints Ten Hag as one of his assistant manager (READ FULL STORYđ)
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Ten Hagâs signings ranked.jpgGetty/GOAL
James Westwood
28 Oct 2024 13:30+01:00
Erik ten Hagâs Man Utd signings, ranked: From ÂŁ85m flop Antony to Chelsea cast-off Mason Mount
Opinion
Manchester United
Transfers
Antony
M. Mount
E. ten Hag
Premier League
FEATURES
L. Martinez
T. Malacia
Casemiro
W. Weghorst
C. Eriksen
J. Butland
R. Hoejlund
A. Onana
S. Amrabat
A. Bayindir
J. Evans
S. Reguilon
L. Yoro
M. Ugarte
M. de Ligt
J. Zirkzee
N. Mazraoui
The Dutch coach didnât spend transfer funds wisely during his time at Old Trafford, but who stands out as the worst buy of his turbulent tenure?
Manchester United were reduced to a laughing stock under Erik ten Hagâs stewardship. The former Ajax boss is responsible for both of the Red Devilsâ worst starts to a Premier League season, and their worst-ever finish, with FA Cup and Carabao Cup success doing little to paper over the cracks.
Ten Hag inherited a poor squad when he arrived at Old Trafford in May 2022, but has been trusted with a ÂŁ616 million ($807m) war chest to rebuild it in his own image. Almost two-and-a-half years and 20 signings later, United have reached the lowest point of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era â which is really saying something.
So much money has been wasted while Ten Hag has insisted on targeting players heâs worked with in the past, which proved to be a deeply flawed approach as many of them have struggled to cope with the intensity of Premier League football and pressure that comes with playing for one of the worldâs biggest clubs.
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GOAL has ranked all of Ten Hagâs signings at United, from best to worst, as the blundering Dutchman was finally relieved of his duties at Old Trafford on MondayâŚ
Manchester United FC v Liverpool FC â Premier LeagueGetty Images Sport
1Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich, ÂŁ13m)
Mazraoui is a versatile defender who has slotted into the right-back slot in Unitedâs starting XI seamlessly since his summer switch from Bayern. Thereâs little doubt that the Moroccan has been an upgrade on Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who never had the technical skills needed to succeed at Old Trafford.
At the bargain price of ÂŁ13m, Mazraoui must go down as the shrewdest piece of business Ten Hag conducted in his time at the club. That being said, he has gone from being a utility player at Bayern to one of the first names on the teamsheet at United, which tells you everything about the gulf in quality between the two clubs right now.
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Jonny Evans Manchester United 2024Getty
2Jonny Evans (free)
Evans had every right to feel hard done by when United sold him to West Brom in 2015. At 27, he was in his prime and still had plenty to offer. But bringing the academy graduate back to the club eight years later made absolutely no sense.
Ten Hag stressed that Evansâ experience would be invaluable to the younger players in his squad, and heâs certainly been a good role model in that regard. Evans has also rolled back the years to deliver consistently solid performances at the back, including a Man-of-the-Match-worthy turn in a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa that essentially delayed Ten Hagâs sacking for a few more weeks.
However, a 36-year-old centre-back who is way past his best physically shouldnât be starting regularly for a top club. Evans may not have cost United anything, but he was never the right fit for a high backline in a team supposedly set up to press relentlessly from the first minute to the last.
Altay Bayindir Man Utd 2023-24Getty
3Altay Bayindir (Fenerbahce, ÂŁ4m)
United needed another back-up goalkeeper after Dean Hendersonâs permanent move to Crystal Palace in the summer of 2023, and Bayindir seemed to be the ideal fit. The Turkey international arrived with genuine pedigree, too, having served as Fenerbahceâs No.1 for the previous four years.
Bayindir might be regretting that decision now, though, especially given the erratic performances of first-choice âkeeper Andre Onana. The 26-year-old has a 100 percent winning record at United, but heâs only played twice, in an FA Cup fourth-round win at Newport and a 7-0 victory over Barnsley in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Leny Yoro Manchester United 2024-25Getty
4Leny Yoro (Lille, ÂŁ52m)
United pulled off a considerable coup by beating Real Madrid to the capture of Yoro, who enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Lille in 2023-24. The 18-year-old justified the hype on his debut, too, putting in an outstanding shift in a 2-0 pre-season win over Rangers.
Unfortunately, disaster struck in his second outing against Arsenal, as he was forced off after just 35 minutes. Yoro was subsequently diagnosed with a serious foot injury and underwent surgery, which left him facing three months on the sidelines.
The talented teenage defender may end up being a superb signing in the long-term, but there is also a chance his development will stall after such a damaging fitness blow. Questions have rightly been asked over whether United should have eased Yoro into the fold more gradually.
Tyrell Malacia Manchester United 2023Getty
5Tyrell Malacia (Feyenoord, ÂŁ13m)
Malaciaâs first year at United was very encouraging, as he provided genuine competition for Luke Shaw in the coveted left-back slot. It was a surprise to see such a young player make the transition from the Eredivisie to the Premier League look so easy as Malacia racked up 39 appearances across all competitions.
The last of those came in a 2-1 home win against Fulham in May 2023. Incredibly, Malacia has not seen a single minute of action since. The pace of English football obviously took a toll on the Netherlands international, who has endured a frustrating road to recovery since undergoing knee surgery last summer.
Ten Hag has yet to even call Malacia back to the substitutesâ bench, meaning the 25-year-old has gone from being an exciting prospect to damaged goods, and it remains to be seen if he can get his United career back on track as he approaches the final year of his contract.
Sabitzer(C)Getty Images
6Marcel Sabitzer (Bayern Munich, loan)
United went into panic mode after losing Christian Eriksen to an ankle injury in January 2023, and scoured the loan market for a short-term replacement. Sabitzer was the man eventually brought in to cover for the Dane, after falling down the pecking order at Bayern, and he did a decent job across his 18 games in the famous red shirt.
The Austrian midfielder also weighed in with three goals, including two in Unitedâs Europa League quarter-final tie against Sevilla. But once Eriksen returned, Sabitzer was deemed surplus to requirements, and it was no surprise when United decided against signing him outright at the end of the campaign.
Lisandro MartinezGetty
7Lisandro Martinez (Ajax, ÂŁ48m)
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher famously claimed that Martinez was âtoo smallâ to play in the Premier League after he followed Ten Hag to United from Ajax in 2022. Itâs fair to say that the 5â9 centre-half made Carragher eat his words in his debut season, leading by example for United with his ferocious competitive spirit and composure on the ball.
Martinez was, however, only able to appear in 14 games across the 2023-24 campaign due to injuries. Those fitness struggles have continued this term, and when the Argentine has been available, heâs looked very rusty. At his best, Martinez is a major asset for United, but the World Cup winner desperately needs to rediscover his rhythm.
Joshua Zirkzee Manchester United 2024-25Getty Images
8Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna, ÂŁ36m)
Zirkzee has come in for a lot of criticism after scoring just one goal in his first 13 games for United, most of which has been unfair. The Bayern academy graduate was profiled as a No.9 by many fans after his summer move from Bologna, but heâs not a natural goal-scorer, and doesnât play on the shoulder of the last defender.
Ten Hag signed Zirkzee to compliment Rasmus Hojlund, not compete with him. The 23-year-old is an accomplished dribbler who likes to drop deep and link the play, boasting impressive physical attributes and vision that make him difficult to pin down. That desire to get on the ball is also the reason for Zirkzeeâs main weakness, though: heâs spending too much time away from the penalty area.
The Netherlands forward has shown glimpses of real class, but has yet to add a new dimension to Unitedâs attack. Thatâs partly because of a lack of quality around him, but the jury is very much out on whether Zirkzeeâs game is the right fit for the quick transitions that have become a staple in the Premier League.
Manchester United v Leeds United â Premier LeagueGetty Images Sport
9Jack Butland (Crystal Palace, loan)
Butland was brought in to deputise for David de Gea between the sticks in January 2023, after Newcastle loanee Martin Dubravkaâs return to St Jamesâ Park. The England international supported the Red Devils as a boy and described the switch as a âfairy taleâ, but he never got the chance to fulfil his dreams at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag persisted with De Gea in the No.1 jersey â despite the Spaniard being guilty of several high-profile mistakes â for the entire second half of the 2023-24 campaign, leaving Butland out in the cold. After 20 games on the bench, Butland was promptly returned to Crystal Palace, probably wondering why United even bothered to pursue him in the first place.
Aston Villa FC v Manchester United FC â Premier LeagueGetty Images Sport
10Christian Eriksen (free)
United signed Eriksen on the back of his short but hugely impactful spell at Brentford, who gave the Danish playmaker the platform to rebuild his career after his horror collapse at Euro 2020. The former Tottenham and Inter playmaker was able to return to the pitch after being fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), and quickly showed he could still mix it at the highest level after joining United.
Eriksen couldnât sustain that form, though. He hasnât been the same player since recovering from the injury that disrupted his first year at Old Trafford, with opponents often able to exploit his lack of pace in the middle of the park. Still, the 32-year-old must go down as one of Ten Hagâs best additions, and he has enjoyed a surprise resurgence at the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
Manuel Ugarte Manchester United 2024-25Getty
11Manuel Ugarte (PSG, ÂŁ51m)
United lost 19 games in all competitions last term, their worst record since 1977-78, largely because their midfield was almost non-existent. To fix that glaring weakness, Ten Hag forked out ÂŁ51m ($67m) on Ugarte, with Paris Saint-Germain happy to let the Uruguayan go after just one year on their books.
It quickly become clear why PSG made that decision. Itâs harsh to judge Ugarte after just seven appearances for United, but he does not look close to being the transformational signing Ten Hag so desperately needed.
Ugarte was particularly poor in the Red Devilsâ chastening 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham, which saw the visitors post an xG (expected goals) total of 5.33 as they dominated the midfield battle. Ten Hagâs system was mostly to blame for Unitedâs continued failings, but Ugarte has a long way to go in order to prove he was worth such a hefty investment.
Sergio Reguilon Man UtdGetty
12Sergio Reguilon (Tottenham, loan)
Unitedâs 2023 summer deadline-day swoop for Reguilon was a logical move at a time when both Shaw and Malacia were unavailable for selection. But the Tottenham defender couldnât stay fit himself, starting just four Premier League games for the Red Devils before seeing his loan deal terminated six months early.
Reguilon didnât contribute a single goal or assist in his short time at Old Trafford, which was a big disappointment considering his reputation as a forward-thinking full-back with a knack for getting to the by-line to deliver crosses. The Spaniard wasnât terrible defensively, but United couldnât rely on him, and already had too many players falling into that bracket.
AmrabatGetty Images
13Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina, loan)
United had to pay almost ÂŁ10m to bring in Amrabat on loan from Fiorentina, which always felt like too much for a player who had not done enough to build on his star turn for Morocco at the 2022 World Cup. But Ten Hag had previously worked with Amrabat at Utrecht and he was adamant that the âdynamicâ midfielder would be the perfect foil for Casemiro.
Amrabat had his moments, most notably in Unitedâs shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City, but didnât ever look settled at Old Trafford. It certainly didnât help that Ten Hag asked him to play in several different positions, but Amrabat couldnât cope with the speed of Premier League football and his frequent misplaced passes often put United on the backfoot.
De LigtGetty
14Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich, ÂŁ38m)
Ten Hag oversaw De Ligtâs emergence as one of the most promising young defenders on the continent during their time together at Ajax, which ended when the Dutch defender joined Juventus for ÂŁ68m ($89m) in July 2019. De Ligt would go on to win a Serie A title with the Bianconeri, but largely flattered to deceive, and it was a similar story for him after he left for Bayern.
De Ligt was very fortunate to get a third chance at one of Europeâs elite clubs in the summer, as United identified him as the ideal man to partner Martinez at the back. Of course, it hasnât turned out that way. Harry Maguire and Evans got the nod at the back for the crucial Villa game, and the Red Devils looked far more solid with that veteran duo, which doesnât reflect well on De Ligt.
The 25-year-old, who canât even get in the Netherlands team these days, has looked painfully slow off the ball and worryingly uncomfortable on it in his early weeks in Manchester. Itâs too soon to write De Ligt off completely, but United didnât need to take such a big gamble on a player who is clearly never going to fulfil his early career potential.
Rasmus Hojlund Manchester United 2024-25Getty/GOAL
15Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta, ÂŁ75m)
It has been widely reported that United didnât follow up on their interest in Harry Kane in 2023 because they deemed Tottenhamâs ÂŁ100m ($131m) valuation of the 30-year-old too steep. So instead of going all out for one of the finest strikers in Premier League history, who guarantees at least 20 goals per season, Ten Hag was allowed to splash just ÂŁ25m ($33m) less on unproven Danish prospect Hojlund.
The former Atalanta ace hit just nine Serie A goals in his solitary campaign with the Italian club, yet he was trusted to be Unitedâs new leading man. Hojlund did find the net 16 times for United in 2023-24, and became the youngest player to ever score in six successive Premier League games, but for the most part, he has cut a frustrated figure up top.
Hojlund has been starved of decent service, but his finishing has fallen well short of what you would expect from a ÂŁ75m player and his body has not held up to the demands of Premier League football. The Denmark international doesnât take enough shots when he gets into good positions either, and will have to develop a ruthless streak if he is to convince the doubters he can be Unitedâs main source of goals for the foreseeable future.
Casemiro Manchester United 2024-25Getty Images
16Casemiro (Real Madrid, ÂŁ70m)
Casemiro was the driving force behind Unitedâs run to a third-place Premier League finish and Carabao Cup glory in 2022-23, and earned plenty of plaudits for his all-action displays, including from Gary Neville, who described the Real Madrid legendâs impact at Old Trafford as âdevastatingâ. However, the United legendâs assessment came with a caveat, as he told The Overlap: âA ÂŁ20m-a-year [contract] for five years is a ÂŁ170m investment. That is a massive investment. Itâs not a smart signing when you look at it from a big picture point of view.â
There was a reason Madrid let Casemiro join a direct European rival. Heâd been showing signs of decline at Santiago Bernabeu, and the Spanish giants jumped at the chance to freshen up their midfield when United came calling. Casemiroâs winning mentality lifted the Red Devils briefly, but Neville has been ultimately been proven right.
The Brazilian has gradually crumbled physically over the last 15 months, to the point where he is now a shadow of the destroyer he was at his peak with Los Blancos. United are stuck with Casemiro until 2026 knowing full well he has become a liability, and Ten Hag is to blame for tarnishing the reputation of a once-great midfielder because he couldnât see the âbig pictureâ.
Andre Onana Manchester United 2024-25Getty
17Andre Onana (Inter, ÂŁ48m)
De Gea overstayed his welcome at Old Trafford. He didnât do enough to improve his ability with the ball at his feet, which prevented United from playing out from the back effectively. Onana was signed to fix that, after playing a key role in Interâs unlikely run to the Champions League final.
Onana also did the job of kick-starting attacks for Ten Hag at Ajax, and their reunion was seen as a significant step forward for United. But he could scarcely have endured a more turbulent start to Old Trafford career.
The Cameroon goalkeeper is still demanding the ball constantly and aiming for incisive passes to beat the opposition press, but his execution has not been nearly as polished as it was at Inter. He doesnât command his box either, staying way too close to his goal-line when facing set-pieces and in one-on-one situations.
United look shakier than ever with Onana serving as their last line of defence. He makes just as many basic handling errors as De Gea did, too, which is another damning indictment of Ten Hagâs judgement.
Wout Weghorst Manchester United 2022-23Getty Images
18Wout Weghorst (Burnley, loan)
How do you replace Cristiano Ronaldo? That was the question facing Ten Hag after an explosive saga that led to the five-time Ballon dâOr winnerâs contract being terminated by mutual consent in November 2022. There werenât many options in the winter transfer window, and in an act of sheer desperation, United turned to Weghorst to fill the CR7 void.
Weghorst was enjoying a purple patch on loan at Besiktas at the time, but only scored two Premier League goals with Burnley as they suffered relegation the season prior. He matched that dismal tally in his 31 appearances for United, though neither of those efforts came in the top-flight, despite Ten Hag including him in the starting XI almost every week.
There was no faulting Weghorstâs effort; he was a relentless presser and the fans took to him, but the former Wolfsburg man just wasnât up to the required standard technically. Weghorst made no secret of his desire to earn a permanent contract, but United couldnât justify the financial outlay on a centre-forward who was all huff but no puff.
Mason Mount Manchester United 2024-25Getty
19Mason Mount (Chelsea, ÂŁ60m)
On July 6, 2023, United had their pants pulled down by Chelsea. The Blues squeezed a ÂŁ60m ($79m) fee from one of their fiercest rivals in exchange for Mount, on the back of his worst campaign as a p
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