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Manchester United have had a tumultuous period since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. This period of turbulence has coincided with the stewardship of Ed Woodward, who has served as the executive vice-chairman for the club.
His duties have included all aspects of the club's operations, from commerce to approving player signings. While Woodward has done the former component of his job with astuteness, it's the latter where the former investment banker has failed.
It has been all show and little result for Manchester United
Manchester United have never had a shortage of riches in the bank despite continually falling standards for their on-field performances. The Red Devils have neither spared any expenses, nor has the club stopped acquiring talent.
But success has been rare, and the Manchester-based club have often ended up overspending. The next five cases represent some of the overly expensive deals Ed Woodward has sanctioned during his reign, which is set to end this month.
#5 Morgan Schneiderlin - £31.5M
Morgan Schneiderlin exhibited traits and abilities that seemed quite attractive when playing for Southampton in the Premier League. His performances coincided with Manchester United's dire need for midfield talent following a terrible period under David Moyes.
What transpired was a signing that has been a complete disaster for both the player and the Red Devils.
Schneiderlin was one of Southampton's most important players but it was quite the opposite at Manchester. It was evident that the Frenchman didn't have what was needed to succeed with the Premier League giants.
He managed 47 appearances and was shaky for most of his time on the pitch before being sold to Everton. While goals are not commonly expected of a defensive midfielder, his overall tally of one goal and one assist is extremely paltry.
#4 Fred - £53.1M
When Manchester United acquired Fred, the Brazilian was one of the most sought-after talents across Europe. The midfielder showed his talent for Shakhtar Donetsk, and when Woodward secured a deal worth £53.1 million, it looked like money well spent.
Fred has had many chances to prove himself as the midfielder has made 141 appearances for the Premier League club. Despite playing in a traditionally defensive role, he has also contributed to the attack with 16 goal involvements.
The major problem with Fred, however, has been his distinct lack of consistency. While he is great to watch sometimes, he looks extremely poor on occasion. Many of his critics have even admonished former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over the game time Fred has managed to receive at United.
He is a regular once again under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, and fans will be hopeful that Fred can replicate the ability he once showed in Ukraine.
#3 Romelu Lukaku - £76.23M
Manchester United were on the lookout for a forward following the injury to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and were linked with Alvaro Morata throughout the summer of 2017. The situation ended up quite differently as the Spaniard went to fellow Premier League giants Chelsea and United settled for Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku was linked with a move to the Blues having played for them previously, but the striker ultimately moved to the Manchester-based club from Everton.
It would be unfair to say that Lukaku was a total disaster as he did deliver on the goals front. The forward registered 42 goals and 13 assists in Manchester, making 96 appearances. But his time was diluted by harsh criticisms, which were quite unfair at times, and inconsistency.
Lukaku never managed to settle down and ultimately left for Inter Milan after disagreements with then manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Thankfully for Ed Woodward, the club could recoup most of the investment made in Lukaku.
#2 Paul Pogba - £94M
Paul Pogba left Manchester United as a free agent back in 2012 in search of minutes to establish himself as a world-class player at Juventus. When the opportunity arose to sign him back, the club made sure to make the most out of it.
The fee paid to sign the Frenchman made him one of the most expensive transfers across world football. It raised several eyebrows as many wondered if Pogba was worth the amount being paid to bring him back.
Those doubters have been proved largely right as the Frenchman's second spell at Manchester United has been full of controversies, inconsistencies and injuries.
There is no doubt that Paul Pogba is a world-class player, and at times, he appears on a different level than the remaining players on the pitch. The 38 goals and 49 assists he has recorded for the Red Devils showcase the ability he has always had.
But Pogba's stay has been marred by off-field controversies, especially those relating to transfer rumors. It can be claimed that he hasn't properly justified the amount spent on him, though he does seem to have rejoined the club at the wrong time.
As things stand, it's quite likely that Pogba will be leaving Old Trafford as a free agent for the second time in his career.
#1 Harry Maguire - £78.3M
Manchester United's pursuit of Harry Maguire was possibly done with the hope of getting a deal similar to what Liverpool did when they bought Virgil Van Dijk.
Jose Mourinho had cribbed a long time for a top-quality defender without success, but his successor, Solskjaer, got a new defensive recruit very quickly. However, many fans believed that Leicester City were exploiting the Red Devils' desperation by charging nearly £80 million for Maguire's services.
Weighing up his performances so far, that does seem to have been the case.
Maguire led Manchester United as captain on the pitch and had a spectacular 2020-21 season. But the two seasons surrounding that season have been pretty poor, especially in the ongoing campaign.
He has looked extremely shaky, and his gameplay has been full of errors. The Englishman has also struggled with multiple injuries, possibly due to being overworked in his initial seasons at the club.
Unless Maguire radically changes his gameplay and decision-making, it will remain one of the most over-expensive signings of the Woodward era.
