Renowned Arsenal icon, Ian Wright, has openly expressed his bewilderment at the decision of Manchester United’s manager, Erik ten Hag, not to sign two former Ajax players, Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez, during the last summer transfer window.
Despite finishing 14th in the Premier League last season, West Ham United significantly reinforced their squad by securing the services of both Kudus and Alvarez. The Hammers invested approximately £73 million to acquire the winger and the holding midfielder, signaling a proactive approach to bolster their team.
In contrast, Manchester United opted to sign Antony from Ajax for a staggering sum of up to £86 million in 2022 and also acquired Casemiro for around £70 million from Real Madrid during the same transfer window.
Ian Wright, in an interview with Premier League Productions, expressed his dissatisfaction with Ten Hag’s recruitment choices since taking charge at Manchester United. He voiced his surprise at the preference for Antony over Kudus, stating, “I don’t think we have needed to see too many games where you look at Kudus’ output to Antony’s output and then think: ‘How can you choose this guy over this guy? When this guy is definitely doing a lot, lot more’.”
Wright further remarked, “It is the same with Alvarez as well. Those are the signings you look back on that Ten Hag has made and think: ‘What is going on there?’ It just doesn’t seem right to me.”
As evidence of their impact, Kudus has recorded nine goals in 24 games for West Ham United, while Alvarez has contributed with one goal and two assists. In contrast, Antony is yet to make a significant impact for Manchester United, failing to register a goal or an assist this season.
The criticism from Ian Wright shines a spotlight on the intricacies of transfer decisions and the subsequent impact they have on the performance of football clubs. The ongoing debate around the choices made by Ten Hag at Manchester United continues to stir discussion within football circles, highlighting the significance of strategic player acquisitions in the world of football.
