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How have Manchester United's 2015-16 signings ranked this season?

This Premier League campaign has been one in which Louis van Gaal can point to academy products a...



How have Manchester United'...
Soccer

How have Manchester United's 2015-16 signings ranked this season?

This Premier League campaign has been one in which Louis van Gaal can point to academy products as a potential saving grace.

Marcus Rashford announced himself into the first team picture with a clutch of goals, while Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Timothy Fosu-Mensah are among those who have also been given an opportunity especially when the injury curse has made itself felt for established stars.

But what of the signings made by the club last summer? They have had a full season of action, but the impression left is that only one or two have actually impressed.

Anthony Martial

The most obvious success, the young Frenchman has scored 17 goals this season and at 20 has so much more to give for the seasons to come.

He has already started paying back the hefty transfer fee from Monaco which could rise to well over €60 million.

While, he has started out wide and through the middle, the latter is where he is likely to thrive long-term.

Highlights include a decisive double against Southampton at the start of the season and the winner in the FA Cup semi-final against Everton.

Matteo Darmian

The Italy international was impressive early on, so much so that he was voted Manchester United's player of the month in August.

Versatile and capable of playing at right and left full-back, he has unfortunately had occasional injury setbacks scattered throughout the season.

His main highlight was a goal he deems his best ever against Crystal Palace:

Bastian Schweinsteiger

An asset off the pitch as an experienced leader, he seems to have settled in very well.

"He has already been accepted as a leading player and that is why also we have bought him from Bayern Munich. I believe in a mixture between youth and older players and he is an example for the young players. I am very happy with him," said Louis van Gaal last September.

On the pitch however, he was never going to be the force of old from his Bayern Munich and peak Germany days.

Fitness has been a problem and he has made just 31 appearances across all competition.

Morgan Schneiderlin, left, Bastian Schweinsteiger, center, and Matteo Darmian, right, are introduced as the newest signings to Manchester United, Wednesday, July 15, 2015 (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Morgan Schneiderlin

A disappointment when his fee of £24 million is taken into account. The former Southampton midfielder's underwhelming season has resulted in him being left out of France's Euro 2016 squad on home soil - although he is on the stand-by list.

Along with Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin did not impress John Giles during the Champions League campaign, with the Off The Ball pundit commenting: "If you're watching Man United, Schneiderlin isn't going to go past anybody, there won't be any clever one-twos with Schweinsteiger or Carrick." 

Memphis Depay

The biggest disappointment of them all, the Netherlands international arrived at Old Trafford with a big reputation from his time at PSV Eindhoven.

But aside from occasional good performances in European games, the winger has flattered to deceive.

The mitigating circumstances are that it's his debut season at a one of the world's biggest clubs and he is only 22, but two Premier League goals and no assists tells its own story.

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