Man Utd told to return to signing ‘top players’ after years of transfer failures

Teddy Sheringham says Manchester United must get back to signing ‘top players’ under Ruben Amorim after a series of transfer flops under Erik ten Hag.

United have begun to find their feet under their new head coach, unbeaten in their first three games of 2025, including an impressive draw at rivals Liverpool and FA Cup win at Arsenal.

Much work is still needed of course, and though Amorim has been told to focus on improving the players at his disposal for now, the club is bracing itself for a huge squad overhaul.

That process has already begun with several stars tipped to leave Old Trafford in January, including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Casemiro.

In terms of incomings, a summer move for Viktor Gyokeres or Alexander Isak – two of the most in-form strikers in the world – has been mooted, news which should please Sheringham.

The United legend says the Red Devils should focus on transfers for ‘proven players’ who ‘lead by example’, akin to those signed during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

‘I’m positive about Amorim, I like the way he’s come in and conducted himself,’ the former striker, who won the treble with United in 1999, told the Football’s Greatest podcast.

‘I obviously liked his teams and the way they played, when they turned over Manchester City and the passion they showed in the game. He gets his teams playing with a tenacity and an enthusiasm which is very, very important.

‘I’m optimistic that they’ve got the right man but they’ve got a long way to go and he’s got to get some top players in the club, for me, without a doubt.

‘They’ve spent so much money on good players and good players are good, but when you’re talking about Manchester United, you need top players.

‘Over the last two years, Harry Kane and Declan Rice both became available. Top players, lead by example, proven players week in, week out, great progressional players and they were nowhere near signing them.

‘They let Harry go to Bayern Munich, they weren’t in the frame to get Arsenal away from signing Declan Rice.

‘When those top players became available in Sir Alex Ferguson’s years, he went out and bought them… Gary Pallister, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Wayne Rooney, he went out and got these top players.

‘He said, “You’re coming to play for me now, you ain’t going anywhere else in the country, you’re coming to play for Manchester United because you’re one of the best”, but it’s not happening now.

‘They’ve got to get back on that road of signing top players who lead by example.’

United have spent over £1.6 billion on players since Ferguson’s departure 12 years ago, with Ten Hag alone splashing around £600million, most of which on unproven stars who had potential.

This includes Rasmus Hojlund, Antony, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte. So far, few have lived up to the hype with the rest’s future at Old Trafford already in question.

Ahead of Sunday’s game against Brighton, United are 12th in the Premier League and there is a strong possibility they won’t qualify for Europe for the first time in 11 years.

Nevertheless, Sheringham believes the club can still attract the kind of players he desires, adding: ‘I think the name still holds the weight. I think the manager needs to do something to get them to the next stage.

‘Manchester United is still the club around the world that people look out for. I reckon a lot of people look at that fixture list and look at when they’re going to Old Trafford and when are Manchester United coming to town.

‘It’s still a big draw but they’ve fallen so far down the pecking order that they need to restructure and get back on the right path.’

This article was first published on January 9, 2025

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