Erik ten Hag deflects blame for United’s transfer woes as manager targets three players

It’s safe to say that Manchester United have been hit or miss in the transfer market in recent years but the misses have stood out like sore thumbs at times.

Erik ten Hag looked to have got it spot on after his first season in charge of the club but 12 months later, some of the signings made have been questioned.

It can be argued that Lisandro Martinez is the only clear-cut success, with Casemiro, Antony, Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount among those to seriously struggle.

Speaking recently, the manager has denied that he is at fault for the careless spending since he took over, with United surpassing the £400m mark last summer.

“The prices paid for players are indeed very high – but I am not responsible for that. The club did all the negotiations, including with very good potential players who didn’t come in the end,” Ten Hag is quoted as saying by the Mirror.

“So it is all a bit more nuanced than the picture that is being painted that the purchase policy is disastrous. It’s all negative, but despite all the problems, the foundation at the club has grown stronger.

“That may not all be visible to the outside world now, but everyone internally will make that analysis.

“With talents like (Kobbie) Mainoo, (Alejandro) Garnacho, Hojlund and also someone like Amad Diallo, who has developed very strongly, the future looks bright.”

In the report, it’s claimed that Ten Hag would like to add three players to his squad this summer as he maps out his side’s development.

It’s understood that Ten Hag wants to sign a striker, a midfielder and a centre-back to bolster his squad but it’s carefully emphasised that keeping his existing players fit is just as pivotal.

United had more separate injuries than any other Premier League club in the 2023/24 season, with Ten Hag consistently being without at least one of his crucial first-team starters. In reality, he was without a handful of them for most games.

Ten Hag has an obligation to press ahead with his plans for the summer but it remains unclear whether he will be in charge for the Premier League curtain-raiser in August.

A review of United’s season is being carried out this week and it is likely that a decision on Ten Hag’s future will land at the end of that review.