Ten Hag’s worst Transfer mistake – Manchester United rejected €170 million-plus Dutch duo before big-money moves

Revelations from former Manchester United scout Marcel Bout shed light on missed opportunities for the club to sign Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt.

The duo, now valued at over €170 million, slipped through United’s grasp during their earlier years at Ajax, and Bout expresses frustration over the club’s delayed decision-making in the transfer market.

Despite ongoing struggles under manager Erik ten Hag and critical decisions looming in the upcoming January transfer window, Manchester United faces scrutiny for past choices.

The hefty investment in Antony, a nearly €100 million acquisition from Ajax, has drawn criticism, especially in contrast to the overlooked potential signings of De Jong and De Ligt.

Bout emphasized the need for United to secure deals early for promising talents like De Ligt, who was 17 years old at the time.

The scout’s suggestion to let such talents develop in the Netherlands before integrating them into the squad was seemingly disregarded due to bureaucratic delays and decision-making challenges within the club.

Reflecting on the impact of missed opportunities, Bout stated, “There are now top players at other European top clubs that we had seen early on with the scouting staff.”

The Dutch duo flourished at Ajax under ten Hag, and the implication is that Manchester United’s hesitancy in signing them altered the trajectory of their careers.

While De Jong has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent times, the midfielder remains content at Barcelona, where contract renewal discussions are underway.

On the other hand, De Ligt’s career has taken a different path since his move to Juventus and Bayern Munich.

For Manchester United fans, the revelation of overlooking De Jong and De Ligt adds another layer of frustration to a series of questionable transfer decisions over the past decade.