‘Struggled’: Lineker gives early verdict on Ten Hag signing as transfer policy proves questionable yet again

In the summer transfer window, Manchester United strengthened their ex-Ajax contingent with two additions.

Indeed, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui joined Andre Onana, Antony and Lisandro Martinez as current Reds to have played under the Dutchman in Amsterdam.

Excluding the recent acquisitions, Martinez is the only one who you could really put a case forward for in terms of being a success – though injury issues saw his maiden campaign end prematurely, and he was absent for the majority of last season.

Onana is a maligned figure amongst the Old Trafford faithful, while Antony’s United tenure thus far has left a lot to be desired. Even without delving into his shoddy goal contributions, the fact he cost £86 million and now ranks behind young Academy graduates such as Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo says it all.

Read more: ‘I’m sorry for you’ – Ten Hag flounders after taking appropriate criticism from journalist in heated post-match exchange

De Ligt struggles on first United start

There are hopes that De Ligt, given his stellar experience up to this point, can work in harmony alongside Martinez for the foreseeable future. However, he was run ragged by Liverpool’s ever-threatening frontline yesterday.

Gary Lineker weighed in on the Red Devils’ transfer business under Ten Hag, telling The Rest Is Football panel: “I think that maybe the transfer policy as well… he’s brought in kind of a lot of players, I suppose, that he knew from his Ajax days, and that’s not really worked so far.

“I know it’s too early to say with De Ligt, but I mean, he struggled a bit as well.”