Arsenal legend Ian Wright has questioned the decision-making of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag in the transfer market.
The Dutchman has often been accused of wanting to sign players who he has worked with before. However, two of his former Ajax stars, Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus moved to West Ham in the summer for a combined £73m. Both have performed well for the Hammers and Wright says he can’t understand why ten Hag didn’t go after them:
“Alvarez and Kudus at West Ham. Two players he had himself and it’s baffling to me that you sign Antony over Kudus. I don’t think we have needed to see too many games where you look at Kudus’ output to Antony’s output and think: ‘How can you choose this guy over this guy?’ When this guy is definitely doing a lot more.”
“The same with Alvarez. Those are the signings you look back on that Ten Hag has made and think: ‘What is going on there?’ It just doesn’t seem right to me.”
A number of clubs overlooked Alvarez and Kudus
To be fair to ten Hag, United were not the only team who missed the boat with the pair. Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund were credited with an interest in Alvarez before he made the switch to the London Stadium.
Kudus has also been on the Blues’ radar, as well as Arsenal’s, but West Ham were the ones who decided to take the plunge.
United’s transfer business under ten Hag has been woeful
There can be no hiding from the fact that the Dutchman’s judgement in the transfer market has been found wanting. Since his appointment in the summer of 2022, the club have signed SIXTEEN players either on loan or on a permanent basis for a combined cost of £407m.
Lisandro Martinez is probably the only one who has been an unqualified success, while the other 15 have either had their moments or have flopped pretty badly.
