De Jong chase and Ten Hag autonomy exposes Manchester United’s transfer failures

There is a vague air of David Moyes signing Marouane Fellaini at Man Utd. Things aren’t quite that unimaginative under Erik ten Hag, but…

While working in a new country provides an enticing opportunity for managers to evolve, broaden their horizons and try something different, it is important for some degree of familiarity to breed contentedness. The transition between coaching philosophies is never smooth; signing a player well-versed in the successor’s methods can ease that change.

Jurgen Klopp made six signings in his first summer as Liverpool manager. None were from Borussia Dortmund – although attempts were made to prise Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich before his return to the Westfalenstadion – but four joined from German clubs. These were players Klopp had faced, talent he felt would suit his style and the Premier League from first-hand experience. The Reds raided Schalke, Mainz and Augsburg to establish the foundations for their subsequent success. And that is before taking into account Roberto Firmino, signed from Hoffenheim months before Klopp’s appointment, a player the manager felt was “one of the best in the Bundesliga” at the time.

It is not a foolproof approach. Joel Matip remains an integral part of the Anfield machine more than six years later; Loris Karius, Ragnar Klavan and Alex Manninger do not. And when Pep Guardiola rose to power at Manchester City, his most on-brand addition was that of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, who was usurped by Willy Caballero within a few months. The Spaniard packed Ilkay Gundogan in his suitcase for the trip from Germany to England as his first Etihad signing but not every comfort blanket provides comfort.

Considering Erik ten Hag already certainly definitely absolutely