Gary Lineker has spoken out on Manchester United’s transfer business and raised his concerns over one player that manager Erik ten Hag signed in the summer.
Erik ten Hag had his Manchester United first-team squad strengthened in key positions after a lacklustre 2023-24 Premier League season.
Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee was signed from Bologna in July and French defender Leny Yoro, who is currently injured, arrived from Lille in the same month.
Erik ten Hag was also reunited with two more former Ajax players in the summer transfer window after the signings of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui.
United completed a double swoop for former Ajax stars Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui after agreeing a deal worth nearly £60m with Bayern Munich in August.
The Red Devils were tipped to sign a defensive midfielder in the summer and United completed the acquisition of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day.
Lineker on ‘struggling’ Man Utd star
Gary Lineker remains unconvinced by Manchester United’s “transfer policy” and with Erik ten Hag being reunited with several former Ajax players at Old Trafford.
Ten Hag signed Lisandro Martinez and Antony after his arrival at Old Trafford in 2022 before United made a move for Andre Onana in 2023.
Former Ajax star Donny van de Beek was already at United when Ten Hag came to United, but the midfielder was unable to rediscover his form under the Dutchman.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said that his “early” verdict on Matthijs de Ligt is that he has “struggled a bit” since his move from Bayern Munich.
“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,” he explained.
“I know it’s too early to say with De Ligt, but I mean, he struggled a bit as well.”
De Ligt can make impact at Man Utd
De Ligt made a brief cameo appearance in United’s 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford in August before coming off the bench again in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
The 25-year-old Dutch defender was then handed his first United start in the 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Old Trafford, with De Ligt starting alongside Lisandro Martinez.
De Ligt played 69 minutes for United in Sunday’s Premier League clash before he made way for England defender Harry Maguire.
The United centre-back made a name for himself under Ten Hag at Ajax and was considered one of the world’s best young defenders during his time at the club.
De Ligt went on to play for both Juventus and Bayern after his spell under Ten Hag, who still rates the Netherlands international and his long-term potential.
Speaking ahead of the Liverpool match, Ten Hag said: “He [De Ligt] is fit, especially a fit guy, so he’s really excited, and he wants to play really ambitious, so yeah, we put him in.”
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