Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United comments from two years ago might be a problem for Ineos

Erik ten Hag was unconditional about the guarantee he needed above all others when it came to taking the Manchester United job in April 2022. The Dutchman emerged as the club’s first-choice target ahead of Mauricio Pochettino and he impressed club officials during discussions in Amsterdam, but he told United’s football director John Murtough he needed control of recruitment.

"I set requirements in advance about how I want to work," he told Dutch outlet Trouw in April 2022. "If they aren't granted, I won't do it. I am ultimately responsible and accounted for the results. I don't want to be the sole ruler, I stand for cooperation, but control in transfers is a condition for me."

Nobody can dispute Ten Hag has had exactly that in his time at Old Trafford. He’s had so much control over transfers that it’s probably harmed the prospects of Murtough remaining in his role under INEOS once their 25% stake in the club is confirmed.

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Murtough has given Ten Hag what he wants in the transfer market, but now doubts are growing over so many of those signings and it doesn’t reflect well on either man.

It’s easier to count the signings that Ten Hag has made that he had no prior connection to. The loans of Martin Dubravka, Jack Butland, Sergio Reguilon and Marcel Sabitzer. The transfers of Altay Bayindir, Jonny Evans and Casemiro. Beyond that, all of the arrivals have had some kind of link to Ten Hag,

That is most obvious in the former players that have followed him to the club; Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Sofyan Amrabat and Antony, the £85million winger who might be the most damaging