- 7 hours ago
'Man Utd have bought more deadwood than they have sold' - Carragher
Cameron Smith
- 10 May 2024 11:30 BST
- 3 min read
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has slammed Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for his transfer decisions since moving to Old Trafford in 2022.
Ten Hag, 54, is under huge pressure amid the Red Devils’ poor form this season and Carragher believes there are a few major differences between the Dutchman’s issues and the ones faced by Mikel Arteta during the early years of his time at Arsenal.
Arteta was also heavily linked with being sacked before turning it around at the Emirates Stadium, but Carragher believes the Spaniard was given time due to the fact it was his first managerial job, as well as his transfer decisions.
READ MORE: Beckham backs Ten Hag despite Man Utd sack rumours
Arsenal signed the likes of Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Gabriel shortly after Arteta’s arrival, while Man Utd’s recent signings have not impressed Carragher.
What has Jamie Carragher said?
“Like Arteta, Ten Hag had no choice but to use the personnel available to be more pragmatic in his first season,” the ex-Liverpool defender wrote in his column for The Telegraph.
“Over his first three transfer windows, United spent just over £380 million and nothing has changed as they have bought more deadwood than they have sold. Of Ten Hag’s first Premier League line-up (a 2-1 defeat against Brighton in August 2022), seven would probably still make the first choice XI.
READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first HUGE Man Utd investment revealed
“Only two have left the club, and another, Jadon Sancho, is about to play the Champions League final on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
“Unlike Arteta’s transfer picks, Ten Hag’s decisions backfired terribly, especially the signings of Antony and Casemiro.”
Man Utd have been linked with a host of new players ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to be involved in plenty of transfer activity following his minority stake purchase in late last year.
