Man United have backed Erik ten Hag with more than £600MILLION on players... but with Mason Mount, Casemiro and Antony failing to make the grade, how do his buys stack up?

A damning defeat at home to Manchester United - their second 3-0 league loss at Old Trafford already this season - has fingers firmly pointed at boss Erik ten Hag,

While Manchester United are standing by Ten Hag and sources have indicated a level of calm amid the storm that is surrounding him post-Tottenham, pressure is ramping up on the Dutchman.

Sunday's disappointing display saw many of Ten Hag's signings called into question after an outlay of more than £600million since he took the reins from interim boss Ralf Rangnick ahead of the 2022-23 season.

More than £200m was spent this summer following an eighth-placed finish last term and yet United don't look to have made significant strides forward as hoped.

Mail Sport runs through every signing made by Ten Hag at Manchester United and grades the move out of 10.

Erik ten Hag has now had five transfer windows since taking over as Manchester United boss

Tyrell Malacia

Fee: £14.6m

The first signing of the Erik ten Hag era at Manchester United, Malacia has fallen by the wayside having now not played for the club in more than 12 months.

He made 39 appearances in his first season and briefly took over from Luke Shaw as first choice left back.

But that now feels a lifetime ago as setback after setback has left Malacia out of the picture for more than a year now. Continues to be a non-factor as Diogo Dalot, a right back by trade, persists at left back.

Grade: 3/10

Tyrell Malacia has not featured for Manchester United in more than a year due to injury issues

Christian Eriksen

Fee: Free

One of only two free transfers made by Ten Hag, Eriksen deserves credit for digging in and fighting for his place when many looked to have written him off.

Last season there were ample occasions when the Dane looked off the pace and dangerously susceptible to being caught out in transition.

But three goals from six appearances so far this season show there is still value to Eriksen, particularly when deployed further forward and shed of too much defensive responsibility.

At 32 he also provides experience and his strong comments after the draw with FC Twente when he stated that United's opponents wanted it more evidenced why straight-talking veterans like him are worth their weight in gold if United are going to improve.

Grade: 6/10

Christian Eriksen (right) arrived on a free in 2022 and has continued to make a contribution

Lisandro Martinez

Fee: £55m

One of the very few 'hits' from Ten Hag's transfer splurge.

'The Butcher', as he is known by United fans, was mocked by rivals over his height when he arrived but many were soon eating their words when he became a rock at the back for a side so devoid of any structure or any bite.

United certainly missed his presence last season when he missed large spells of it through injury and keeping him fit is of paramount importance this time around, even if he looked well below par against Tottenham.

The Argentina international staying fit and finding form can drastically improve United's fortunes and that same sentiment doesn't apply to many in the team's ranks.

Grade: 8/10

Lisandro Martinez is Manchester United's most important defender and keeping him fit is key

Casemiro

Fee: £70m

It is easy to forget just how impressive Casemiro was in his first season at United, popping up with a number of crucial goals. He finished that campaign with seven goals and seven assists to his name.

But the drop-off, and a drop-off so public too, has been difficult for all concerned.

Casemiro was operating both in defensive midfield and then as an emergency centre back when injuries piled up but so did mistakes on his part.

This season he arrived trimmer, owing to a full pre-season off, when United were unable to move him on amid some tentative interest from Saudi Arabia.

His disastrous performance in the 3-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, in which he was hooked at half-time, looked to be the end, even if he sticks around and plays in fits and starts.

No longer good enough to play week in, week out, in the middle of the park for United.

Grade: 5/10

Casemiro had a strong first season but has regressed since and has now lost a starting place

Antony

Fee: £82m

Where do you even begin?

The Brazilian is the second-most expensive player in the club's history, only behind Paul Pogba, and not once has he come close to looking like a sound investment.

He has scored just five goals and made three assists in 55 Premier League appearances and only ever seems to show up in games against lesser opposition; Newport County and Barnsley come to mind.

While there have been flashes of his quality - games against Chelsea and Liverpool among the stand-outs - more often the conversation is about what he isn't doing.

Add in the fact he goaded Coventry City's players in embarrassing fashion after United nearly threw that FA Cup semi-final away and it's been a disaster of a move for all parties.

Behind Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho in the wingers' pecking order, an exit sooner rather than later appears inevitable.

Grade: 2/10

Antony has fallen down the pecking order and has never looked like paying back the £82m fee

Martin Dubravka

Fee: £2m loan fee

Joined on a season-long loan from Newcastle, only to be recalled in January due to a lack of game time.

Made just two appearances in a Manchester United shirt, both in the Carabao Cup with wins over Aston Villa and Burnley.

Worked out at a cost of £1million per game.

Grade: 4/10

Jack Butland

Fee: Loan

With Dubravka heading back to the north east it was another loan goalkeeper brought in as Butland arrived for six months from Crystal Palace.

Did not make a single appearance for United in what was a 'short and sweet' experience for the goalkeeper, who ended up joining Rangers after his loan expired.

If this list was a quiz question he may be the most forgettable name on here.

Grade: 3/10

Wout Weghorst

Fee: £3m loan fee

Weghorst was in tears - the good kind - when he discovered he would be joining Manchester United on loan, allowing him to live out a boyhood dream of turning out for the Red Devils.

An impressive winter World Cup in Qatar elevated his stock but the 6ft6' striker managed just two goals for United in a fairly pedestrian six months at the club.

In Weghorst's defence he often found himself drawn into a deeper position and was tasked with facilitating for others.

'The pressure was bizarre,' he said of his United stint, 'and the physical strain greater than I had ever experienced.'

It showed.

Grade: 4/10

Wout Weghorst scored twice in his six-month loan at Manchester United before being let go

Marcel Sabitzer

Fee: Loan

Brought in on a six-month loan deal from Bayern Munich due to fitness issues surrounding Christian Eriksen, Sabitzer's stint is one that may split supporters, some of whom were keen to see him stay.

Eighteen appearances in all competitions and three goals, with one assist, is what the Austrian had to show for his loan spell after United elected not to pursue a permanent deal.

Has gone on to impress for Borussia Dortmund, most recently playing a key role in guiding them to last season's Champions League final, and with United's midfield continuing to look ragged there may well be a feeling of what could have been had Sabitzer arrived into a system with more of an identity.

Grade: 6/10

Mason Mount was Ten Hag's No 1 target last summer but it remains a puzzling acquisition

Mason Mount

Fee: £60m

The first signing of Ten Hag's second season in charge, the Dutch boss made Mount, who would have been available for nothing in 12 months' time, his priority target.

It was puzzling given Mount operates best in the position occupied by Bruno Fernandes, who Ten Hag made captain after taking it from Harry Maguire, and how the two could co-exist made for an intriguing debate.

The reality has been even more disappointing than many could have imagined when Mount was all smiles upon his unveiling at Old Trafford.

Mount started just five Premier League games last season and finished the campaign with just one goal and one assist in all competitions.

For the price tag, a baffling buy - even if Ten Hag remains adamant that it is only a matter of time before Mount's quality shines through.

Grade: 4/10

Andre Onana had a shaky start to life as United's No 1 but now looks to have found a rhythm

Andre Onana

Fee: £47m

Made a truly nightmarish start to life as Manchester United's No 1 with every game seemingly bringing another unwanted headline and another high-profile mistake.

Onana by his own admission took six months to settle and since a harrowing Champions League campaign where his mistakes left United bottom of the group he has started to show his real quality.

No longer the problem he was a season ago and now continues to produce big moments, such as the game-changing penalty save at Southampton, or keeping the score down as he did on Sunday against Tottenham.

Looks like the player United fell in love with at Inter Milan.

Grade: 7/10

Rasmus Hojlund struck 16 goals last season but he needs to get a handle on fitness issues

Rasmus Hojlund

Fee: £72m

The huge price tag immediately put the young Dane under a huge amount of pressure to hit the ground running.

Plenty of former United stars are convinced he's not at the level required but having had to contend with three separate injuries in his debut season at the club, a return of 16 goals represented a solid start.

Fitness has robbed him of opportunities so far this campaign and while he can frustrate and look raw in big games, Hojlund looks capable of getting better and better.

A work in progress but one worth persisting with.

Grade: 6.5/10

Altay Bayindir is eager to be given more opportunities having featured just twice since joining

Altay Bayindir

Fee: £5m

The Turkish goalkeeper is highly-rated by those at Carrington who see him working day in, day out, but chances have been at a premium for the 26-year-old.

He has made just two appearances since signing, playing against Newport County in the FA Cup last season and against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup this season.

Desperate for opportunities but with Andre Onana eager to play every game, they don't appear to be forthcoming.

Grade: 5/10

Jonny Evans provides a veteran presence in a dressing room that is brimming with young stars

Jonny Evans

Fee: Free

There was certainly a raised eyebrow or two when it was announced that former academy product Evans would be returning to the club in Ten Hag's second season.

The fact he was given a new one-year deal heading into this campaign highlighted just how valuable a contribution he made on and off the pitch.

The 36-year-old made 30 appearances last season and is seen behind the scenes as a valuable member of a dressing room that is full of young players in need of guidance.

Has been a player that Ten Hag has been able to count on and that can't be said for too many of his signings.

Grade: 7/10

Sergio Reguilon

Fee: Loan

Was brought in on a season-long loan to provide extra cover at left back, only to see United trigger the break clause and terminate the loan at the first opportunity in January.

Reguilon was not United's first choice - they wanted Chelsea's Marc Cucurella but those talks stalled - and given how quickly they deemed him surplus to requirements once Luke Shaw got back fit, it smacked of yet another panicked signing that, as is often the case these days at United, did not pan out.

Seven of his 12 appearances in all competitions coupled with United defeats. Says it all.

Grade: 3/10

Sofyan Amrabat

Fee: £8.5m loan fee

Showed flashes of quality after arriving on loan from Fiorentina but never truly looked up to it which is why United turned down the option to make his move permanent.

There was a spell where he went five months without being handed a start in the Premier League, so low had his stock fallen after a series of puzzling displays.

He did start 17 games and deserves credit for his performance against Manchester City in the FA Cup final where he was among United's finest performers on the day.

Always felt nothing more than a stop-gap move.

Grade: 4/10

Joshua Zirkzee is early in his United career but has left a lot to be desired in games so far

Joshua Zirkzee

Fee: £36.5m

It is early days for the 23-year-old Dutchman but he already finds himself under the microscope after just one goal - scored on his debut to defeat Fulham - from eight appearances so far.

Zirkzee himself conceded he is not a typical No 9 despite leading the United attack and his lack of cutting edge in front of goal already has some fans sweating about the decision to hand him a five-year deal with the option of an extra 12 months.

United cannot afford for Zirkzee to be another non-scoring forward.

Grade: 4/10

Much is expected of teenage defender Leny Yoro (right), who is sidelined with a foot problem

Leny Yoro

Fee: £52m

Feels impossible to run the rule over the teenager given he picked up a foot issue before the season even started, ruling him out for three months.

The 18-year-old featured against Rangers in pre-season before limping off against Arsenal in a friendly in Los Angeles 10 days later.

United beat off competition from Liverpool and Real Madrid to get him and expectations are high but as of right now, there is no way of knowing just how good the Frenchman can be.

Grade: TBC

Noussair Mazraoui (left) knows Ten Hag well from time at Ajax and he has slotted in seamlessly

Noussair Mazraoui

Fee: £17m

A player Ten Hag knows well from their time together at Ajax, United's new right back has hit the ground running, albeit in tumultuous circumstances.

Tottenham targeted Mazraoui in the 3-0 win on Sunday and that is a concern but the early signs from the Moroccan have been that he can be solid down the right side.

'I think he is a player who is quite difficult to put under pressure. I think especially in English football, that can be very beneficial,' Ten Hag said of Mazraoui when he signed.

Needs to provide more going forward but thee form of Mazraoui is the least of United's concerns right now.

Grade: 6/10

Matthjis de Ligt looks an upgrade on United's other options at centre back and will get better

Matthjis de Ligt

Fee: £37m

Another Ajax reunion for Ten Hag, the arrival of De Ligt was hailed internally as a key piece of the puzzle for bolstering this back-line.

Produced a man-of-the-match display against Southampton and has looked a real threat on set pieces since coming into the side alongside Lisandro Martinez.

Has looked rash at times in trying to win the ball high up the pitch, leaving himself exposed in behind, but the early signs are that the Dutchman is an upgrade from the centre backs Ten Hag was able to call upon before.

Should only get better in a settled back four.

Grade: 7/10

Manuel Ugarte needs to avoid being left too isolated in midfield, just as Casemiro has been

Manuel Ugarte

Fee: £52m

With just one league start under his belt since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, it is too small a sample size to truly judge how effective Ugarte is going to be for United.

Many were calling for the Uruguayan to partner Kobbie Mainoo in central midfield, with Bruno Fernandes more advanced, but it was a disaster all round against Tottenham.

The worry with Ugarte is whether the set-up of Ten Hag, coupled with the pace of English football, will magnify flaws in his game, just as it has done with Casemiro in the past 12 months.

Needs a major - and swift - improvement on his display against Tottenham.

Grade: 5/10

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