Teddy Sheringham has accused Manchester United’s new top brass of failing in the transfer market.
And the 1999 Treble hero has demanded: “Buy some proper players”.
United’s new hierarchy, led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and new CEO Omar Berrada, spent over £200million during the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and deadline day signing Manuel Ugarte to bolster Ten Hag’s squad after last season’s disappointing campaign.
But despite the new faces, Ten Hag - fresh from signing a new contract in the summer having initially looked set to depart - has seen his side lose two of their opening three Premier League matches. After starting with a 1-0 win over Fulham at Old Trafford in their opening game, they were beaten late on at Brighton, before Liverpool sauntered into Old Trafford under new boss Arne Slot on Sunday and waltzed away with a dominant 3-0 win.
That has seen further questions asked about the manager and his side’s set up, with Ten Hag insisting defeat to their rivals was down to individual mistakes and player errors rather than underlying issues with his system.
But for Sheringham, those above the Dutchman must take their share of the blame. And while much has been made of the changes at the club, particularly with regards how it is now recruiting players, the ex-England striker insists they are continuing to fail to do what brought them success during Sir Alex Ferguson ’s trophy-laden reign.
“For me, when the big players become available, that's when Manchester United should strike,” said Sheringham.
“I’ve said it before, but Declan Rice was available last summer, Harry Kane was, too... United weren't anywhere near getting those players in. They're the big players - the big England players - they've got to be going and getting.
“Like your Rio Ferdinands and your Wayne Rooneys over the years; these guys know the game inside out, and so you go out and break transfer records to get them.
?”Harry Kane leads by example. You know what you're going to get from him. It's the same with Declan Rice; they're leaders on the pitch, and everyone follows them. When Man United aren't in the conversation when it comes to those players, you know you've got a problem.
“Man United have got no leaders. They've got decent players, but everyone is looking after themselves, and that is not how you build a football team. You need leaders to follow, and they haven't got any.”
Dutch international Zirkzee joined from Bologna this summer and scored the winner against Fulham. Undoubtedly, the striker, 23, has potential, but Sheringham insists that he wasn’t what was needed when United went in search of a new No.9.
?”They brought in Rasmus Hojlund last year, and it's the same this summer with Joshua Zirkzee,” he continued, speaking at the launch of Ladbrokes' ‘Gaffer of all Accas’.
“They might be good little players, but how long are they going to take to get used to the Premier League? Zirkzee might take, what, six months? Maybe longer? You haven't got that sort of time as a manager; you need proven players that are going to do a job for you, and help other players along the way.
“All these players that they keep signing... you know, [Matthijs] de Ligt: OK, he might be a nice player, but they've got Harry Maguire there, who can do a very similar job. It's just like, what are you doing? What are you buying?
“Go out and break the bank and get proper players in, who you know are going to do a job week-in, week-out. De Ligt, he's been at a few different clubs now. Why? Why are people letting him go? That's not a top player.”
