Ten Hag told he "does not get a free pass" as four Man Utd transfers questioned

21 October 2023 , 09:20

1156     0

Ten Hag told he "does not get a free pass" as four Man Utd transfers questioned

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has been told to expect scrutiny from Sir Jim Ratcliffe over his transfer dealings.

Liverpool legend Graeme Souness says that Ten Hag doesn't deserve a "free pass" after signing three of his former Ajax players and another star from the Eredivisie for a eye-popping total sum of £208million. Lisandro Martinez, Antony, Andre Onana and Tyrell Malacia were all handpicked signings by the Dutchman, who recently guided United to their worst start to a season in 34 years.

Despite Martinez, Antony and Malacia missing much of the campaign so far, Souness has warned Ten Hag that once INEOS founder and chief executive Ratcliffe becomes a minority investor in the club - after his £1.4billion deal to purchase 25 percent of United is complete - and takes control of sporting matters, his recruitment will come under the microscope.

"I read in this newspaper a couple of days ago that Erik ten Hag has welcomed the arrival of Ratcliffe because he is frustrated with recruitment," the former Liverpool captain and manager wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.

"I'm sorry, but the manager doesn't get a free pass. His three former Ajax players he has signed at a cost of £170m - Antony, Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana - were his picks, and I'm sure Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord would also have been. I don't think any them have massively improved the team, so Ten Hag cannot absolve himself from recruitment issues."

Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash

It was reported earlier this week that in a meeting with United executives in March, Ratcliffe was critical of United's decision to pay up to £70million for Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, who's now 31 and showing signs of being past his best. The French club which INEOS also own, Nice, have revamped their recruitment in recent months and are now focused on signing rough diamonds rather than fading stars, a strategy which has led them to second in the Ligue 1 table under 34-year-old manager Francesco Farioli.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will soon own 25 percent of Manchester United through INEOS (VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)

Have your say! Should Sir Jim Ratcliffe take over recruitment responsibilities? Join the debate in the comments section.

Ratcliffe criticised United's spending post- Sir Alex Ferguson during an interview with the Times in 2019 and said of INEOS' philosophy: "We have a different approach here to be moderately intelligent about it.

"We try to do it more grassroots, trying to locate young talent. Some clubs seem to have an ability to do that, Southampton and Lille. United have done it really poorly, they have lost the plot."

Nathan Ridley