Zirkzee, Ugarte & De Ligt: Rating every Manchester United summer signings

Before the summer transfer window started, Manchester United fans were promised a lot of changes – a huge clearout of dead wood, followed by the signing of a slew of new players who could propel the club back towards the Champions League. In the end, they signed just five players while 13 departed, either permanently or on loan.

That means that the five new signings handed to Erik ten Hag (at a combined cost of up to £180m including add-ons) may need to have an outsized impact over the course of the season – but are they up to the job? Have United found some players who can make a lasting impact on their team?

Below, we take a look at the five new arrivals and see how they’re all settling into life at Old Trafford, give them all a mark out of ten for their work so far, and try to assess whether they look like they will make the difference going forward.

Joshua Zirkzee – 4/10

On debut, the powerfully-built Dutchman scored a superb debut goal against Fulham, coming off the bench to divert Alejandro Garnacho’s fierce pass into the goal thanks to what was either impeccable technique or some intelligent improvisation, depending on what form of credit you wished to give him. It was a fine start, but it’s all been downhill since.

Zirkzee hasn’t scored again and has been responsible for some glaring misses, in particular a pair of close-range chances against Liverpool. His expected goals continue to rise while his actual goals remain the same. Signed as a central striker for a reported €42.5m (£35.7m), he has looked uncomfortable in a position he is unfamiliar with, having played a deeper, more creative role for Bologna. He has the attributes to play number nine, but either needs patience while he learns the role or for Ten Hag to reimagine the way that he is used.

Nouassir Mazraoui – 8/10

Perhaps the least glamorous of United’s new recruits on paper has arguably been the most effective so far. The Moroccan arrived from Bayern Munich as part of the €60m (£50.2m) double deal that also brought Matthijs de Ligt to Old Trafford and was initially expected to be competition for Diogo Dalot and perhaps not too much more. Instead, he’s given United something they sorely lacked – a full-back who can make a difference at both ends of the pitch.

He hasn’t been flawless and the working-over he got during the dreadful 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur proved that he can be vulnerable when attacked at pace, but he’s otherwise been rock steady in defence, winning the vast majority of his one-on-one battles with opposing full-backs, and while he isn’t a true creative force down the flank, he at least has the energy to get forward and provide an option. Mazraoui isn’t necessarily a player who has the capacity to truly transform United’s fortunes, but he looks like a canny acquisition all the same, and given that he only accounted for a quarter of the value of the deal with Bayern, 8/10 seems like a fair score.

Matthijs de Ligt – 6/10

The Dutchman was one of the most hotly-tipped defenders of his generation not so long ago, but after being discarded by both Juventus and Bayern Munich he arrived at Old Trafford at considerable expense but with a reputation to salvage. The early results have been distinctly mixed.

In theory, Ten Hag’s relatively deep defensive line should suit De Ligt, who can struggle against intense pressing, but he hasn’t hit his best form as yet, mostly proving to be solid but at times having his positional sense and relative lack of pace exposed. He has one goal in the 3-0 win over Southampton but struggled in the 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool and has yet to put up a really top-tier performance.

Manuel Ugarte – 5/10

The Uruguayan was signed for an estimated €50m (£41.9m) with the intention that he would become the strong shield in front of the defence that has been missing since Casemiro’s performances started tailing away – and it may be too early to judge how well he will fulfil that role given that he has only managed the full 90 minutes once so far with match fitness a concern at the start of the season.

The time he has had on the pitch thus far has, however, been mostly below par, although there have been some promising signs – as it stands, he’s making more tackles than any other United player on a minute-by-minute basis, for starters. But for the most part he has looked half a yard off the pace of the game, particularly against Spurs. He has been on the bench since that defeat. He has the quality to be the answer in central midfield, but hasn’t yet shown it.

Leny Yoro – TBD

United’s single most expensive summer signing – the 18-year-old defender cost €62m (£51.9m) despite only having a year left on his contract at Lille – Yoro has unfortunately not yet played a single competitive minute for his new club thanks to a foot injury.

He should be back by early November, at least, and will then get a chance to show the fans what he’s capable of. Given his age, the towering defender, who looked both composed and technically impressive in Ligue 1, should be given time to settle in and find his rhythm in the Premier League. Given how much he cost, there may be pressure to speed that process along.

Overall, the new crop of players hasn’t lived up expectations or requirements just yet, although the quality is certainly there on paper – but none of the players who arrived after the start of the summer’s much-trumpeted overhaul have yet proven that they can make a real difference as the club looks to turn its fortunes around. Only Mazraoui has played consistently well. There is, at least, a long way to go.