Graham Souness has lambasted the transfer strategy of the INEOS group, the minority owners of Manchester United.
Souness pointed out that in the summer of 2024, the Old Trafford side made several reinforcements but these signings are yet to come good.
Graham Souness claimed that players like Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, and Manuel Ugarte are not good enough for Manchester United.
Graham Souness on Manchester United’s Transfer Strategy Under INEOS
Speaking with the Up Front Podcast, the 71-year-old questioned INEOS’s footballing credentials and indicated his reservation on whether they should be trusted to make the right decisions for Manchester United.
Souness said: “They brought in Ugarte, De Ligt, and Zirkzee. If they think those players are good enough for United, they’re wrong.”
“They’ve now got their so-called footballing people in charge, in Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox, and I can’t believe for a minute that they didn’t have an input on the players they signed in the summer.”
INEOS Group At Manchester United
The 2023/24 season saw the football operation of Manchester United changing hands from the Glazers to the INEOS group, as British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a 27.7% stake in the club.
The Old Trafford side’s director of football, Sir Dave Brailsford, has led a holistic examination of club operations since Ineos’ co-ownership of the club was confirmed in December 2023.
What Have The INEOS Group Brought On Board?
Manchester United’s minority owners have introduced several initiatives in place, including cost-cutting measures, alongside recently dismissing Dutch tactician Erik ten Hag.
The English giants subsequently secured the Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim, who was confirmed as manager of the Old Trafford side on Friday, November 1, 2024.
Their recruitments
Souness’ comments are focused on the additions made by Manchester United in the summer of 2024, with players like Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, and Manuel Ugarte yet to improve the fortunes of the club.
Leny Yoro was also acquired from Lille in the summer of 2024, but the defensive prodigy has yet to play a competitive game for Manchester United due to an Injury.
Some of the acquisitions last summer, like Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, and Noussair Mazraoui, have shown flashes of brilliance, but more is expected from them.
Youngsters like Sekou Kone and Chido Obi-Martin were also captured in the summer of 2024.
Manchester United In The 2024/25 Season
Despite the signings made last summer, the Old Trafford side languishes in the bottom half of the Premier League table (14).
The English giants were also in danger of missing out on the knockout stage of the UEFA Europa League, having shared the spoils in 3 of the matches they have been involved in.
Due to their shaky state, it is also not certain if they could defend the FA Cup title which they won in the 2023/24 season.
It will be fascinating to see how they fare in the coming matches, as they are to achieve relative success in this campaign.
Manchester United’s Next Match?
The English giants host Chelsea on Sunday, November 3, 2024, and they will be hoping to secure maximum points at Old Trafford.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s spell as interim manager commenced on a good note, as Manchester United smashed Leicester City 5-2 in the 4th round of the FA Cup.
Their victory over the Foxes ensured them progress into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they will be trading tackles with Tottenham Hotspur in North London.
Van Nistelrooy would have a total of four games in charge of Manchester United, as having stewarded them against Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, he will also handle their clash with Chelsea in the Premier League alongside PAOK in the Europa League, and Leicester City again in the Premier League.
