'Got to say no' - Gary Neville delivers brutal verdict on Man Utd transfer business under Erik ten Hag

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has questioned a number of expensive signings made by his old club during Erik ten Hag’s managerial reign at Old Trafford.

The former Ajax manager has spent over £400m since he agreed to take charge of the 13-time Premier League champions in the summer of 2022 following an underwhelming spell under former interim manager Ralf Rangnick.

Ten Hag wasted little time in putting his own stamp on the squad he inherited as the likes of Antony, Casemiro and Lisandro Martinez all joined United ahead of his first season in charge. A top four finish in the Premier League and a Carabao Cup Final win over Newcastle United provided a measure of success and much was expected ahead of the current season.

The expensive signings continued to arrive as Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund, Chelsea star Mason Mount and Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana agreed to move to United - but their impact has been underwhelming as Ten Hag’s men head into 2024 sat nine points adrift of the top and are out of the Carabao Cup and Champions League.

With the January transfer window now open for business and the Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal to invest in the club complete, there are hopes United may well look to further strengthen Ten Hag’s squad over the coming weeks.

The likes of Inter defender Federico Di Marco, Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi and Nice star Jean Clair-Todibo have all been named as possible targets - but Neville believes one deal completed during Ten Hag’s reign means the United hierarchy should learn to say no to their manager if they don’t believe a signing is the right one.

Speaking after their defeat against Forest, Neville told Sky Sports: "That's the one that's going to stand out on Erik ten Hag, that £85million on Antony. He's nowhere near that level. But even £70million on Hojlund is a lot of money, £55m on Mount, £60m for Casemiro on a five-year deal.

"There's a lot of deals you can start to look at with a glass half empty. Manchester United's recruitment department can't have watched Antony and signed him for £85m. It looks like they've allowed Ten Hag to overrule him. The owners have got to say no.”

United return to action when they visit Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third round next Monday night.