Peter Schmeichel believes Erik ten Hag should have given an opportunity to a youngster rather than sign Wout Weghorst during January transfer window.
The Dutchman, 30, joined Manchester United on loan after Cristiano Ronaldo left the club by mutual consent during the World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo's contract was ripped up after he criticised his employers during an interview with Piers Morgan.
United, who are in the midst of a possible takeover, could not afford a big-money transfer and signed Weghorst from Burnley on a temporary basis instead. Red Devils legend Schmeichel thinks that was the wrong decision by Ten Hag due to the striker's poor form.
Weghorst, who found the net twice for Netherlands at the World Cup, has scored just one goal in 11 appearances for United since the transfer - going 457 Premier League minutes without a goal. His only strike came during a 3-0 Carabao Cup win against Nottingham Forest.
Weghorst was hooked by Ten Hag at half-time during United's 2-1 win against Barcelona on Thursday night. The score was 1-0 to Barcelona at the time, with replacement Antony scoring the winner to send them through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
"The way Erik ten Hag and his team have recruited has been very good – [but] it’s not been fantastic – there are question marks over certain players," Schmeichel told BBC Radio 5 Live during a commentary stint on Thursday night, per Metro.
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"Wout Weghorst has arrived on loan. You can argue that’s what was available at the time but I’m thinking is there not someone younger at the club you could have given that opportunity? Wouldn’t that have been more beneficial for the club?
"They’ve brought in a striker who has played every game since he has arrived and scored one goal. It wasn’t even a deciding goal. Of course we are right to question that decision.
"We haven’t spoken about Wout Weghorst tonight and he is a bit of the odd one out for me. He has started every game and we are still waiting to see if he is good enough for this Manchester United side and I don’t think he is."
It is unclear which youngsters Ten Hag could have given a chance to. United do have a lot of exciting emerging forwards on their books - such as Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga and Facundo Pellistri - but they are all wide players.
Weghorst also arrived at Old Trafford in good form. He spent the first half of the season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, where he scored eight goals and provided four assists in 16 league games. His World Cup form would have also captured Ten Hag's attention.
Weghorst is still on the books at Championship side Burnley, who are on course to win promotion to the Premier League. It is unclear where the striker's long-term future lies, but it seems unlikely he will get a permanent move to Old Trafford.
