Erik ten Hag signing told he is ‘never a Manchester United player’

One of Erik ten Hag’s summer signings, Joshua Zirkzee, has been told he is ‘never a Manchester United player’ following the sluggish start to his Premier League career.

Ten Hag sanctioned United’s summer move for Zirkzee, who completed a £36.5m move from Bologna and signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford.

Zirkzee had spent two years at Italian side Bologna, scoring 14 goals in 58 appearances, including 11 in Serie A last season.

The 23-year-old, who has three caps for Netherlands, enjoyed a dream start to his Manchester United career, scoring the winner on his debut to help Ten Hag’s side beat Fulham on the opening day of the season.

Zirkzee has offered little since then, however, failing to find the back of the net or provide any assists in his last nine appearances in all competitions.

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes was among those to criticise Zirkzee following Sunday’s goalless draw with Aston Villa, questioning his best position and doubting his ability to be a consistent goalscorer for the Red Devils.

‘In forward areas especially, I just don’t think the quality is there,’ Scholes said after an uneventful clash at Villa Park.

‘We go back to the most successful teams, they’re capable of scoring goals. What have we scored? Five goals in seven games.

‘Now we had three or four forwards who could get you 20 goals so you’re looking at 80 goals a season there and I just don’t see that in the forward line at Manchester United.

‘Look, [Rasmus] Hojlund does alright but is he gonna score you 20 goals? I don’t think so. Zirkzee… what is he? Is he a No.9 or a No.10? Is he going to get you 20 goals? I don’t think so.

‘I think they’re relying more on hope than actual proven quality and they spent so much money as well.’

Ex-Premier League midfielder Craig Burley has also criticised Zirkzee, claiming he is ‘never a Manchester United player’.

Speaking on ESPN, the former Chelsea and Scotland star also urged United to pull the plug on struggling manager Ten Hag during the international break.

The Manchester United board are set to meet up in London this week where conversations over Ten Hag and the team’s lack of progress will undoubtedly be held.

United have just eight points from seven league games and sit 14th following a run which represents the club’s worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign.

‘It wasn’t one of Manchester United’s worst performances. It wasn’t brilliant but it wasn’t one of the worst,’ Burley said after the draw with Aston Villa.

‘That’s the worst-ever start by United in a Premier League season. Erik ten Hag broke his own record from last year.

‘If Ineos don’t make a decision that everyone knows they should make, maybe he’ll get a third chance to break that record again. What is the point?

‘Ten Hag said “that’s another clean sheet”, after losing by the amount of goals they did last week, after conceding the amount of goals they did in Porto, after signing all these players in the summer and leaving them on the bench. 

‘Some of the signings have been absolutely horrendous. Hojlund hasn’t worked out obviously, we’ve talked about Zirkzee. My god, he’s never a Man United player. De Ligt has just come in and looks like a shambles.

‘There’s no surviving in this job for Erik ten Hag. So what is the point of kicking the can down the road another couple of weeks or months?

‘It was stupid to give him a new contract, they need to make a big decision [during the international break] because the club isn’t going to forward under Erik ten Hag. There’s no sign of this getting better.’

Former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Ten Hag if Manchester United do decide to sack the Dutchman.

Tuchel held talks with United over the summer before the fallen Premier League giants decided to give Ten Hag more time.

Manchester United welcome Brentford to Old Trafford in their first game back from the international break, before facing Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

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