"A graveyard for players with decent reputations" – Gary Neville slams Manchester United's recruitment plans following Newcastle United defeat

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has lambasted his former club's summer recruitment after the Red Devils' 2-0 Premier League home defeat to Newcastle United earlier on Monday (December 30).

Former Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag dished out over a combined £200 million to sign five players earlier this summer. The Old Trafford side roped in Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, and Leny Yoro too.

However, only Mazraoui has tasted a bit of success since his permanent transfer from Bayern Munich. While Zirkzee was jeered off the pitch earlier this Monday, Yoro has struggled with an injury and Ugarte has received a bit of flak of late.

After the Red Devils' fourth straight loss in all competitions, Neville shared his two cents on his former club's summer signings. He said (h/t Mirror):

"I've said this before that this club has been a bit of a graveyard for players with decent reputations. But when they signed those players like Ugarte, De Ligt, Yoro, Zirkzee, I didn't hear anybody say, 'They've signed a load of bums'. They've signed some half-decent players there that you thought would improve the squad."

Neville, who is an eight-time Premier League winner, continued:

"The problem is when you see them play out here in a red shirt, they look like actually Manchester United are worse than they were before. That's the bizarre thing, that's the odd thing that I'm going to keep continuing to work out because these players haven't all of a sudden become bad players overnight when they come to Manchester United. But that's what seems to be the case."

Naming three stars who have shone in the recent past, Neville added:

"There are only three players [who] can probably say that they have done okay since Ruben Amorim arrived. Amad [Diallo], Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui. They have not been amazing, don't get me wrong, but they have taken the right approach."

Real Betis keen to sign Manchester United ace

According to Spanish website ABC de Sevilla, Real Betis are aiming to sign Manchester United winger Antony next month. The Red Devils are open to letting go the Brazilian either on a loan move or a permanent transfer in the winter window.

Should the left-footed attacker seal a transfer to Real Betis, he would offer competition to the likes of Abde Ezzalzouli, Aitor Ruibal, and Assane Diao Diaoune.

Antony, 24, has bagged just one goal in 12 appearances across competitions, including three starts, for the Ruben Amorim-coached side so far this season.