Manchester United have shown signs of getting their recruitment right under Erik Ten Hag.
The summer arrival of Casemiro was a fine capture while Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez have been stellar signings. Antony is beginning to show the promise that prompted United to part with more than £80million to secure his signature while Tyrell Malacia has been a worthy squad addition. Wout Weghorst, who joined in January has not delivered what was required but Ten Hag can argue mitigating circumstances around his winter loan arrival.
If ten Hag can source the two key signings he wants this summer, namely a centre forward and central midfielder, then there are signs that United are getting their recruitment act together after a series of scattergun seasons. Indeed a look at the list of players signed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sacked 17 months ago, provides a snapshot of that approach.
READ MORE: United is too big a club for too many of their players
He added 14 signings players almost three years in charge of United, but few can be considered unqualified successes since arriving at the club. Four have already left the club and another two have spent this season away from Old Trafford. And the summer could see several more depart. Here are the 14 signings ranked:
14) Donny van de Beek
While Van de Beek has been unfortunate with injuries during the current campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury in January, he'd made only 10 appearances before then despite being reunited with former boss Ten Hag. He hasn't been given much of an opportunity and could move on in the summer.
13) Alex Telles
Currently on loan at Sevilla, the left back was an unused substitute when the Spanish side visited Old Trafford for the Europa League quarter-final first leg and made a late cameo against his parent club in the reverse fixture. Telles made 50 appearances across his first two seasons at United, but falling firmly behind Luke Shaw in the pecking order precipitated a temporary move away. The Brazil international still has a year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, but is a player United plan to sell this summer.
12) Tom Heaton
Heaton has seen Carabao Cup action this season. The 37-year-old kept clean sheets against Charlton Athletic and Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, playing his part in getting the club to Wembley. Out of contract in the summer, the goalkeeper is currently recovering from an ankle injury and may have already made his last United outing, albeit the club has the option of extending his contract by an additional year.
11) Dan James
Now playing for Fulham, on loan from Leeds United, James at least made United a financial profit. After scoring nine goals in 74 appearances following a £16million arrival from Swansea City, the Wales international joined Leeds for £26million in 2021.
10) Amad
After only making nine appearances in the first team across two seasons since his arrival from Atalanta, Amad joined Sunderland on loan last summer. And the 20-year-old has flourished in the Championship with 12 goals to his name and a place on the division's young player of the year shortlist. He could be involved with United next term.
9) Facundo Pellestri
The 21-year-old has finally been afforded first team opportunities this season under Ten Hag, making nine appearances across all competitions after spending the previous 18 months on loan in La Liga with Spanish side Alaves. Pellestri faces a key summer to cement his spot in Ten Hag's thinking.
8) Odion Ighalo
The striker enjoyed a short but somewhat successful spell at his boyhood club after signing on loan from Shanghai Shenhua on transfer deadline day in January 2020. Five goals across 23 appearances does not quite do Ighalo's contributions justice, with those strikes key in United's progression in cup competitions. Now, the former Nigeria international is currently outscoring Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
7) Cristiano Ronaldo
The Portugal international's second spell at United brought goals but eventually the off-field headlines outweighed those created with performances on the pitch. Ronaldo delivered an infamous interview that prematurely ended his second coming.
6) Jadon Sancho
The 23-year-old is yet to hit the heights expected of him since signing from Borussia Dortmund. After training in the Netherlands for a time on the manager's recommendation, Sancho has shown signs of the player that scored and assisted so freely in Germany. Consistency remains illusive and he will be targeting a strong summer to hit the ground running next term.
5) Harry Maguire
Quickly became club captain after arriving at Old Trafford after establishing himself as a mainstay in the defence under Solskjaer. Has struggled since and Ten Hag made the decision to drop his inherited skipper. Back in the team due injuries, the final weeks of this season will be key to Maguire's future.
4) Aaron Wan-Bissaka
He's worked his way back into the first team this season and has offered legitimate competition to Diogo Dalot, starting each of United's last four matches before being hauled off at half-time against Sevilla on Thursday. United overpaid when sanctioning a £50 million move for the defender and his offensive limitations are not ideally suited to Ten Hag's style of play.
3) Edinson Cavani
Cavani made an impact at United as a veteran option to reliably score goals in an otherwise inexperienced front line. The Uruguay international scored 19 times across two seasons at Old Trafford and his work rate was ever present. His second season fell rather flat after the unexpected arrival of Ronaldo limited his opportunities.
2) Raphael Varane
Injuries have effected his overall impact of the defender since swapping Real Madrid for United. When fit, Varane has been a key player, developing a promising partnership with Martinez. The 29-year-old has made nearly 60 appearances and he is set to return to action for the run-in.
1) Bruno Fernandes
The attacking midfielder's 60 goals and 52 assists across 175 appearances speak for themselves. Fernandes has remained a reliable contributor to the team's success under Ten Hag. The player's dependability has been highlighted during a season hit by several injuries elsewhere in midfield. He remains a likely candidate to replace Maguire as captain should the England man be sold.
READ NEXT:
- Follow the latest United news, views and analysis
- Casemiro gets suspension reprieve as United loanee Dean Henderson suffers injury setback
- United confirm date and time for rearranged Chelsea fixture
- United receive Anthony Martial injury boost ahead of Brighton fixture
- 'Open revolt' - Glazers sent fresh warning over consequences of not selling United
