INEOS must intervene before Manchester United repeat Erik ten Hag transfer mistake

Erik ten Hag is nothing if not consistent in the transfer market. Even with INEOS on board, armed with the keys to drive things from behind the scenes, there is a familiar track being laid out by Manchester United and there has to be some kind of intervention before the Dutchman spins into another dead end.

United have been among the worst buyers in top-level football for over a decade now and that, by absolutely no means, is all down to Ten Hag and his preference for Eredivisie-schooled players. Leny Yoro bucks a growing trend this summer, but Netherlands starlet Joshua Zirkzee took first steps in his homeland.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with familiarity if everything goes to plan, but Ten Hag's strike rate pre-INEOS is far from impressive, although Andre Onana and Lisandro Martinez (when fit) continue to fly the Manchester-based Ajax flag Ten Hag desperately wants to raise, once again, this summer.

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But how long do United leave it with Matthijs de Ligt before the fall into the Frenkie de Jong trap?

De Ligt and De Jong were two beacons for Ten Hag's Ajax tenure. Having progressed through the famed Academy system in Amsterdam, they were promptly thrust on to the biggest stage, winning an Eredivisie title together with Ten Hag in 2019 and also enjoying a dream run to the Champions League semi-finals that same year.

Further trophies followed for Ten Hag in the Dutch capital, although he soon had to wave goodbye to his two top performers. Greater things were expected, with De Ligt moving to Juventus and Bayern Munich, and De Jong still a Barcelona player despite Ten Hag's (very) best efforts in 2022.

At times, that