Ex-Premier League boss says he wouldn't have £70m Man Utd flops in Championship
Manchester United have massively overspent on some of their big-money signings who are not even good enough to play for Huddersfield, according to Neil Warnock.
United shelled out over £170million in the summer to sign Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir. Over the previous summer, they paid £85m for Antony, £70m for Casemiro and £45m for Lisandro Martinez.
Despite the large outlay, Erik ten Hag has struggled for consistency and United are currently eighth in the Premier League following their fifth loss from 10 games against Manchester City on Sunday. Ten Hag has come under mounting pressure, with the Champions League campaign also getting off to a slow start.
Veteran manager Warnock stepped down from his role as Huddersfield boss in September and he has not been impressed with Ten Hag’s approach or United’s work in the transfer market. “I thought when he first came over he was going to be the answer because I thought it needed a disciplinarian in that environment,” the 74-year-old told talkSPORT. “But I’ve got to say I’ve not enjoyed watching how he’s gone about it.
“The money that he’s spent, people forget. Whatever you think about the owners they've spent some massive money. Some of the players, they’ve spent £60-70m. I wouldn’t have had them with me at Huddersfield.”
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Huddersfield are 21st in the Championship with three wins from 14 games so far this season. Ten Hag’s job is considered safe for the time being, but there is uncertainty over his position in the long run, with change coming at the club. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is closing in on a 25 per cent stake in the club and the INEOS chief is expected to be given sporting control if the deal is ratified.
Erik ten Hag hasn't got the best out of his expensive signings (Javier Garcia/REX/Shutterstock)HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Neil Warnock's comments? Will Erik ten Hag turn things around at Manchester United? Comment below.
Asked if Ten Hag will last as United boss, Warnock said: “I don’t think he will personally. I’m not sure he wants to last either. I think he knows he’s banging his head against a brick wall.” Ten Hag took over in May 2022 and won United’s first piece of silverware in six years by winning the Carabao Cup in February.
But United’s form at the start of the 2023/24 season is concerning, with many big-money players not firing. Casemiro’s form has shown signs of decline while Onana has made a handful of major errors already since replacing David de Gea.
Mount has struggled with injuries and is yet to make the sort of impact you would expect from a £60m player. Hojlund has shown flashes of his undoubted talent, but is not being supported in attack, with the team managing just 11 goals in 10 league games so far – a tally bettered by every side in the table apart from the bottom eight teams.
Antony is yet to record a goal or an assist in nine games this season, with United briefly suspending him over allegations of physical assault by an ex-partner. The Brazilian winger denies the allegations but has failed to perform this season.
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