Manchester United's deadline-day signing is not doing what Dan Ashworth wanted

Manchester United exercised patience to sign Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

United were reluctant to match PSG's initial asking price of a €60million (£50.6m) fixed fee and finally signed Ugarte for €50million (£42.3m), with €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons. The deal was complete on transfer deadline day but it never seemed in danger of collapsing, as the player was desperate to join United and the sale was within PSG's interest.

United believed the deal showed their patient approach to negotiations had worked and a source said they felt they had 'significantly strengthened their squad', but Ugarte has been in Manchester for over a month and he's made just one start in the Premier League.

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Ugarte was considered a mobile No.6 and was expected to protect the defensive line by intercepting and recovering balls, something Casemiro did brilliantly during 2022/23. However, he has failed to hit the ground running and was an unused substitute against Aston Villa before the international break, with Casemiro selected to come on instead.

Casemiro also started in the 3-3 draw against FC Porto in the Europa League, which represented his first start - excluding in the Carabao Cup against Barnsley - since his disastrous performance against Liverpool and Ugarte was an unused substitute again in Portugal.

Ugarte was hooked at half-time in his only league start, in the 3-0 defeat to Tottenham when he looked overwhelmed by the pace of the contest. The 23-year-old was not registered in time to play Liverpool, as that fixture was played a day after he signed, which delayed his integration and it's been an uphill battle since then.

He has not looked suited to the Premier League and has made a disappointing start. His best performance so far was produced against third tier Barnsley and he does not want to become like Antony, who only performs against lower-league opposition in cup competitions. The jokes that Antony had found his level when he scored his first goal of the season against Newport County last term wrote themselves and Ugarte can't suffer the same fate.

United's newly created football structure, which includes sporting director Dan Ashworth and CEO Omar Berrada, were said to be in agreement that Ugarte would be a strong addition, but he was nowhere to be seen when they recently watched from the stands at Villa Park.

Ashworth has a proven track record of getting recruitment right and Ugarte must vindicate the faith shown in him in the coming weeks because there are lingering question marks. The obvious caveat to Ugarte's poor start is foreign players should always be given time to adapt to English football and be given the benefit of the doubt in their first season at a club.

The problem is United needed Ugarte to immediately improve the team, given Casemiro's drop-off and how much the midfield is a mess. Ugarte has underwhelmed instead and even Casemiro has begun to creep his way back into the side, despite being below the level required.

Casemiro getting minutes over Ugarte is not a good look for the Uruguay international and he has a huge point to prove when he returns to Manchester later this week. He is unlikely to start against Brentford on Saturday and will only force his way back into the starting line up by excelling in training each day when reporting to Carrington.

United were patient to sign Ugarte but can't wait for him to perform now he's signed.