Carragher accuses Man Utd of playing ‘Supermarket Sweep’

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has likened the recruitment process at Man Utd to watching an episode of television show Supermarket Sweep.

It feels like the Red Devils' pursuit of targets has really ramped up over the past couple of weeks after heavy criticism of their lack of transfer planning this summer.

So far they have only brought in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez with supporters praying for some more big signings after defeat in both their opening two Premier League fixtures of the season.

They are close to getting a deal over the line for Casemiro but Carragher believes the transfer shows how little of a transfer plan Man Utd have.

Carragher wrote in his Daily Telegraph column: “Just look at the Adrien Rabiot deal, which collapsed this week due to the player's wage demands.

"If you are a club like United, you should not be pulling out of transfers — after agreeing a fee with the selling team — due to wage demands.

"Someone at the club should already know what sort of salary the player wants, long before it reaches this point.

"They have also spent weeks chasing Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong, and now they are running around trying to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid.

"From De Jong, to Rabiot, to Casemiro. They are all different players with different styles and ages. What is the plan here? Where is the strategy? It is embarrassing.

"Erik ten Hag will want his own players, of course, and so far this summer United have backed him in the moves for Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia.

"I understand that, because it is hard to say no to a new manager when he has just been appointed, but the desperation at this stage of the transfer window is another sign of the problems within the club.

"It is like watching Supermarket Sweep."

Carragher added: "Contrast United's approach in the transfer market with the strategy at Liverpool, their opponents on Monday night.

"There are Liverpool fans screaming from the rooftops at the moment, saying they need to sign a new midfielder, but the club's decision-makers have consistently shown they are prepared to wait for the right player and the right moment, despite the external pressure.

"Under FSG's ownership, and thanks to their 'Moneyball' methods, Liverpool have been able to avoid so many of the problems that are now affecting United.

"FSG have not been afraid of making changes in personnel to get where they wanted, and they have also invested heavily in both the stadium and the new training ground. It is not simply about having the richest owners, but having owners with vision and decisiveness.

You have to be patient and do things properly. Liverpool trust in the plans they have put in place, and that is what most top clubs are doing.

"When you look at United, it reminds you of a team in the bottom three of the Premier League, frantically trying to make a few late signings in the January transfer window. Top clubs should never be panicking like this.

"To be clear, I have very few complimentary things to say about United's current squad of players, as I don't think many of them have the required character or personality to play for the club. But it is evident that their struggles are part of a wider problem, stretching back years.”