Ten Hag admits Man Utd summer signings have already FAILED

Cameron Smith

• 6 Oct 2024 15:00 BST
• 3 min read

Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee were all benched for Manchester United’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.

The trio cost Erik ten Hag’s side a combined total of €137.5 million this summer, but they have all failed to make an impact so far this season and were placed on the substitutes bench at Villa Park.

De Ligt and Lisandro Martinez were both dropped after their horrorshow against FC Porto in midweek, with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans coming into defence, while Ugarte and Zirkzee were once again on the bench.

READ MORE: Ten Hag kicked 'special player' out of Man Utd

The only summer signing who started against Villa was Noussair Mazraoui and the Morocco international may well have been dropped if Luke Shaw was fully fit.

Ten Hag, 54, played a key role in the arrivals of De Ligt, Ugarte and Zirkzee this summer, yet his decision to bench all three players vs Aston Villa suggests he hasn’t been impressed by their performances so far this campaign.

READ MORE: De Ligt branded a ‘League One player’ after troubled Man Utd start

Have Man Utd summer signings already failed?

Zirkzee hasn’t scored for the club since netting on his debut against Fulham, while De Ligt and Ugarte have both seemingly struggled to adapt to the pace, intensity and physicality of English football.

While Zirkzee was arguably purchased to play a back-up role to Rasmus Hojlund, both De Ligt and Ugarte were expected to make a huge impact upon their arrival at Old Trafford.

However, De Ligt was benched for 36-year-old Evans and 32-year-old Eriksen was selected ahead of Ugarte against Villa, despite the fact both veterans were linked with an exit this summer.

Man Utd have only won three of their last 10 games in all competitions and pressure is mounting on Ten Hag, with the Dutchman facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford amid the club's concerning form.