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Ten Hag's worst XI of Utd signings cost £243m and would be in relegation fight

12 June 2024 , 10:27
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Scroll down to see the full XI
Scroll down to see the full XI

ERIK TEN HAG will remain Manchester United boss after being given a reprieve by the club's Ineos chiefs.

But the Dutchman, 54, will no longer wield the same power over transfers.

Antony is among Erik ten Hag's biggest transfer flops qhidqxidediheprw
Antony is among Erik ten Hag's biggest transfer flopsCredit: AFP
Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount have both struggled at times for Man Utd
Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount have both struggled at times for Man UtdCredit: AFP

Ten Hag has spent £411million on 16 players - only four of which have so far turned out to be hits.

Despite belatedly backing their boss after being snubbed by Thomas Tuchel, United chiefs will reportedly strip back his power over recruitment, given a series of transfer clangers.

The biggest disaster of them all was the £86million forked out to sign winger Antony, who played for Ten Hag at Ajax.

Marcus Rashford makes tongue-in-cheek joke after being dropped by Erik ten HagMarcus Rashford makes tongue-in-cheek joke after being dropped by Erik ten Hag

He has struggled to thrive since moving to Manchester - with just 11 goals over 82 games.

Another big-money signing not yet proving to pay off is £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund, who notched 16 goals in his debut season.

He arrived alongside Mason Mount, who joined in his own controversial £60m transfer from Chelsea, but has struggled for form.

Mount, meanwhile, has so far made just 19 appearances, with one goal, since his summer move and missed a chunk of the campaign out injured.

Andre Onana was brought in as David de Gea's replacement for £47m.

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The stopper has suffered with inconsistent form, but it has been enough to keep £4.3m back-up Altay Bayindir out of the side.

The Turkish stopper starts in our flop XI after managing just one appearance - at Newport County in the FA Cup - all season.

Jonny Evans is at the back after his free transfer, eight years after leaving United, raised eyebrows.

The Northern Irishman was initially signed as a short-term solution but stayed all season and at times the 36-year-old has shown his age.

Erik ten Hag faces fresh Hannibal Mejbri dilemma as transfer interest emergesErik ten Hag faces fresh Hannibal Mejbri dilemma as transfer interest emerges

Sergio Reguilon features after signing on loan from Tottenham, only to be sent back halfway through the season despite a lack of fit left-backs.

Luke Shaw has struggled for fitness, while his back-up Tyrell Malacia - another Ten Hag signing - has missed the entire campaign following a setback following knee surgery.

That's enough to start at right-back in this XI, despite some positive performances for the Red Devils after signing for £13m.

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Andre Onana has not always impressed between the sticks
Andre Onana has not always impressed between the sticksCredit: Getty
Jonny Evans featured far more than anticipated
Jonny Evans featured far more than anticipatedCredit: Kenny Ramsay
Sergio Reguilon was sent back to Tottenham in January
Sergio Reguilon was sent back to Tottenham in JanuaryCredit: Getty

Casemiro - bizarrely played at centre-half amid United's injury crisis - and Mount were not the only midfielders to underperform.

Marcel Sabitzer and Sofyan Amrabat, who arrived with a hefty loan fee of £7.7m, both failed to make an impact when brought in to strengthen the side.

Christian Eriksen, brought in on a free when Ten Hag joined, showed signs of his brilliant best last season but failed to replicate it this term.

And despite Hojlund's hit-and-miss form, it does not compare with that of loanee Wout Weghorst, who left United after six months and just two goals.

Ten Hag's XI of underperformers cost a staggering £243m, and would likely face a relegation battle.

United's Ineos chiefs will hope to hand Ten Hag better tools with which to thrive during his third campaign at Old Trafford.

Jack Figg

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