'Something is wrong' - Premier League winner agrees with Gary Neville over Man Utd's transfer failings

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A Premier League winner has been speaking about Manchester United’s struggles on the transfer front.

A Premier League winner has taken a shot at Manchester United over their struggles in getting the most out of signings over recent years. The Red Devils have spent significant amounts of money on new talent over recent years, but many of their signings have failed to deliver at the level they were playing at before they arrived at Old Trafford.

Jadon Sancho has been exiled after a bust-up with Erik ten Hag, though he has reached the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund, while Casemiro and Raphael Varane have both endured steep declines since arriving from Real Madrid. Antony has struggled to produce his Ajax form, and going further back, Harry Maguire has struggled to maintain consistency over recent years.

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With a poor track record with signings, former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has weighed in, questioning why players seem to be following the same trend. The former midfielder told the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast: “Manchester United will come back because they are a big team but look at Jadon Sancho. He’s not doing well at United, he goes to Dortmund and he looks again like the player we all thought he was going to be. Look at the midfielder that impressed for Morocco at the World Cup [Amrabat], he was fantastic. And then he goes to Man United and he’s not been the same player.”

“Casemiro won Champions League after Champions League at Real Madrid. He was the best defensive midfielder in the world and then he goes to Manchester United and looks like a completely different player. Obviously it makes me think that something is wrong there. It’s not a coincidence that three top, top players come in and they are not good all of a sudden.”

The comments align with something United legend Gary Neville said way back in October, when United had put together a poor start to the season for the second consecutive campaign under Ten Hag.

"I think it is cultural,” Neville said at the time. “Manchester United are ruining players that are being signed as good players. Take Harry Maguire. Maguire was wanted by Manchester City, by the way. These players who have come to Man United have been ruined. Man United are the way they are due to cultural issues and chaos. Erik ten Hag is a good manager working in a very difficult environment. Look up top!"

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United boss Ten Hag was also asked earlier this week about the transfer issues at the club. He said: “The prices paid for players are indeed very high - but I am not responsible for that. The club did all the negotiations, including with very good potential players who didn't come in the end. So it is all a bit more nuanced than the picture that is being painted that the purchase policy is disastrous. It's all negative, but despite all the problems, the foundation at the club has grown stronger.

“That may not all be visible to the outside world now, but everyone internally will make that analysis. With talents like (Kobbie) Mainoo, (Alejandro) Garnacho, Hojlund and also someone like Amad Diallo, who has developed very strongly, the future looks bright.”

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