One of Erik ten Hag’s old Manchester United transfer targets has seen his value drop by more than 75 percent this season, showing how the club dodged a significant bullet.
While at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag spent upward of £600 million across his five transfer windows at the club.
18 of the club’s current first-team players either in the squad or out on loan either joined or made their debuts during the Dutchman’s tenure between July 2022 and October 2024.
While the signings from the most recent summer window, such as Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui, have all been praised, many of the transfers that Ten Hag more of a direct say in like André Onana and Antony have been widely critisied.
Many of those Ten Hag bought to Old Trafford are now deemed to be out of favour under new head oach Rúben Amorim, with those such as Antony, Christian Eriksen, and Tyrell Malacia almost certain to depart.
Many transfer pursuits did not go Ten Hag’s way
Aside from the story of Ten Hag’s era being one plagued by poor recruitment and ill-advised lavish spending, there is also a section that must be dediated to failed transfer pursuits.
During his inial tummer, it was widely remarked that the Dutchman’s No. 1 priorty signing that summer was Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, whom he worked closely with when the midfelder intially broke out at Ajax alongside United’s De Ligt.
However, despite United agreeing a fee of close to £75 million with the La Liga side for the player, he refused to join, with United electing to sign Real Madrid’s Casemiro for around £60 million in the final weeks of the window.
There was a similar story the following summer surrounding Harry Kane, with United chasing the English striker for an extensive period of time before failing to match Tottenham’s £100 million demands before he eventually signed for Bayern Munich and United dug out £72 million for Rasmus Højlund instead.
United dodged a bullet with failed Brobbey deal
Another man who Ten Hag was pushing for United to secure was Ajax forwad Brian Brobbey, with the Dutch forward intially in the manager’s plans for the summer window.
However, a deal never materialised despite Ten Hag’s wish for the £34 million signing, with United dropping a similar fee on Joshua Zirkzee instead.
Now, with Ten Hag gone and Zirkzee having started to prove himself at the club prior to his injury, United fans will be able to look back and realise the bullet they dodged.
Dutch journalist Valentijn Driessen has explained that, following Ten Hag wanting to pay £34 million for Brobbey in the summer, he is now worth less than £10 million.
“Ten Hag wanted to pay another €40 million for him, now they are not even paying €10 million,” Driessen commented, as quoted by Voetbal Primeur.
After scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in 43 apperances last campaign, which is what caught Ten Hag’s attention, Brobbey has just seven goals and five assists in 42 apperances this term, which has signgiiacntly decreased his value and proven to United that they dodged a bullet by refusing to grant Ten Hag’s 2024 summer wish.
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