The pressure is mounting at Old Trafford as Manchester United's big-money attacking signings, Antony and Rasmus Højlund, face fierce criticism for their failure to ignite the Red Devils' frontline. With a combined price tag of £158 million, the duo's struggles are becoming a significant concern for manager Erik ten Hag.
Antony, the Brazilian winger signed from Ajax for £85 million, has come under particular scrutiny. His performances have been labelled 'ineffective' and 'predictable' by pundits, with a glaring lack of goal contributions in the Premier League. The initial excitement surrounding his arrival has quickly faded, leaving fans questioning his impact.
Højlund's Promise Yet to Materialise
Meanwhile, Danish striker Rasmus Højlund, a £72 million acquisition from Atalanta, has shown only flashes of his potential. While he has found some success in the UEFA Champions League, his domestic form has been a cause for worry. The young forward is yet to open his Premier League account, a statistic that underscores United's goalscoring crisis.
The team's over-reliance on the ageing Scott McTominay for goals highlights the severe lack of output from their specialist attackers. This deficiency was painfully evident in recent fixtures, raising questions about the club's transfer strategy and scouting.
January Reinforcements on the Horizon?
With the January transfer window approaching, speculation is rife that United could be forced back into the market. The club has been linked with a variety of potential targets across Europe as Ten Hag seeks to solve his side's goalscoring woes.
Names like Napoli's Giovanni Simeone and Real Betis's Assane Diao have been mentioned as potential short-term solutions. However, any move would require careful financial navigation given the vast sums already spent on the current underperforming squad.
The coming weeks will be crucial for both Antony and Højlund to prove they are the long-term answer for Manchester United, or risk being labelled as expensive misfits in the Ten Hag project.
