Erik ten Hag’s 21 Man Utd signings rated and slated as recruitment issues slammed

Erik ten Hag has recruited 21 new players since taking over as Manchester United manager, and the club’s recruiting since his arrival has received a lot of attention.

Manchester United’s problems under Erik ten Hag have thrown the club’s recruiting back into the spotlight, and it does not look good.

United star Paul Scholes is the latest to criticise the Dutchman’s signings. Ten Hag has spent about £600 million over three summer windows, but issues persist about team depth and balance.

Speaking on SuperSport, Scholes questioned coach Ruud van Nistelrooy’s apparent lack of involvement in Joshua Zirkzee’s summer signing. “He also has to be active in the recruitment process, signing one or two centre forwards. ‘Ruud, who do you think?'” Scholes asked.

“I’m not sure he would have chosen Zirkzee.” I’m not convinced he would have chosen (Rasmus) Hojlund. Look, there are probably not many centre forwards out there, but you would consult him, wouldn’t you?”

han Hag’s first season saw United finish third in the league, but they slumped to tenth in year two. Over the summer, over £200 million was spent, yet there has been no obvious progress.

With United in the bottom half of the Premier League league and Ten Hag facing a make-or-break series of matches, Mirror Football ranks the manager’s performance thus far. Ten Hag has signed 21 players, and the overall roster isn’t particularly appealing.

outright successes

Despite criticism of Ten Hag’s limited signing options, his two most successful players have come from Ajax. Nonetheless, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana arrived at their destinations by distinct ways.

Martinez had a difficult start at Old Trafford, as Ten Hag lost his first two games in command, with a 4-0 loss to Brentford standing out. Since then, he has felt at home at Old Trafford, and United have missed him.

Onana too had a difficult and lengthy start. However, despite costing his team some points in a very apparent manner, he came out on top and has been able to prevent things from becoming any worse for his management.

Promising but has to do more.

This category has only one player: Rasmus Hojlund. While the Danish striker had little say over his £64 million price tag, supporters want more from a marquee signing.

Of course, there were some mitigating considerations. Injury hampered his debut after signing from Atalanta in the summer of 2023, and it also held him out of play at the start of the current season.

Hojlund, meanwhile, is still only 21 years old and was United’s leading scorer last season with 16 goals despite playing less than 3,000 minutes across all competitions. There is stuff to work with there.

Served a function, albeit temporarily.

Not all of Ten Hag’s signings are long-term ventures. Some, such as Jonny Evans and Marcel Sabitzer, were fast fixes who completed the tasks assigned to them after joining amid teammate injuries.

One of the injuries happened to Christian Eriksen before Sabitzer arrived on loan. The Dane also falls into this category after signing for free, despite speculation that he should have been released this summer.

The fourth player in this category might surprise you, but it’s worth noting how vital Casemiro was in Ten Hag’s first season. However, the Brazil international’s decline has been noticeable, and his large contract now appears to be a problem.

Too early to judge.

While Scholes did not appear to think it was too soon to evaluate Joshua Zirkzee after a seven-game scoreless streak, it seems reasonable to wait more than a couple of months before making a decision on United’s new signings. No one will have any trouble keeping an eye on Leny Yoro as he prepares to make his debut following a pre-season injury.

There is an argument to be made that Noussair Mazraoui is the most outstanding of those arrivals, while Matthijs de Ligt has also had his moments. The Dutch centre-back shone in the Premier League victory against Southampton, but it remains unclear if he will start until Yoro is fully healthy.

Manuel Ugarte, United’s sixth summer addition, has made just one league start since coming from Paris Saint-Germain. That didn’t stop Marco van Basten from criticizing the Uruguayan, stating, “It’s idiotic how much (Ten Hag) has decided to invest in players who aren’t even good.”

Underwhelming

Signings do not always go as planned, for a variety of reasons. Wout Weghorst and Sofyan Amrabat were both signed on loan and given the opportunity to audition for a permanent position, but neither passed the test.

Tyrell Malacia, Ten Hag’s first signing, has underperformed for several reasons. He missed the full 2023-24 season due to injury, although he hadn’t made a name for himself before to then.

Mason Mount, who joined the squad in the summer of 2023, has also struggled with injuries. The former Chelsea player cost a considerable amount of money at £55 million, and he arrived with Premier League and international experience, so many will have anticipated more from him by now.

Barely noticeable.

Ten Hag has also signed numerous short-term players who have hardly made an impact. Jack Butland, Martin Dubravka, and Sergio Reguilon all spent time on loan at Old Trafford, but it’s hard to see any of them in club colours.

with least one of the four men in this group is still with the club. Altay Bayindir was the first Turkish player to sign for United after leaving Fenerbahce, yet he has played more games for Turkey than for United since his move to Old Trafford.

Bayindir made his FA Cup debut against Newport County last season and began this season’s League Cup victory against Barnsley at home. Barring an injury, Onana is unlikely to get much more play.

Antony

Antony, alas, has his own category. Considering the lesser possibilities and the lengths Ten Hag went to for a reunion, the bar was set high, but the Brazilian couldn’t have cleared even a low one.

Antony has 12 goals and five assists in more over two years with Manchester United, averaging one goal every 301 minutes – or one every 393 minutes in the Premier League alone. This is for someone who is the second most expensive signing in club history, costing a genuinely ridiculous £86 million.

“The problem with Antony at Manchester United is that I think he’s a player who is perfect for the Dutch league,” commentator and former Premier League champion Joe Cole stated in September. “I believe the toughness of the Premier League is something he suffers with.

“He’s a talented footballer with great technique and skill, and it was good to see him playing well against Barnsley, but I don’t see him making an impact in the United starting team this season and I can’t see him turning it around at Manchester United.”

Given Antony’s high cost and generous pay, it may be difficult for United to unload the star without incurring huge financial penalties. He may yet turn things around, but there are few indicators that he will.