GRAEME SOUNESS has questioned Manchester United’s decision-making process after Donny van de Beek’s arrival in the summer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is yet to give the Dutchman a start in the Premier League, ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Arsenal.
Graeme Souness has questioned Manchester United’s decision making in the transfer windowCredit: Willie Vass – The Sun
Donny van de Beek is yet to have a big impact at Old TraffordCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
And former Liverpool captain Souness believes Solskjaer would not have had a say in signing van de Beek, given his happiness with Bruno Fernandes.
He wrote in The Times: “I’m still not convinced that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making the key football decisions at Manchester United.
“I come to that conclusion on the basis of their recruitment in recent windows.
“I like Donny van de Beek, but United didn’t need another No10 this summer after the success of Bruno Fernandes in the second half of last season.
“That makes me wonder who is sitting round the table, saying, ‘These are the priority positions’.
“Did Solskjaer have a say in van de Beek coming to the club? If I’m the manager, I’d be saying, ‘Don’t take van de Beek at the cost of not getting players for the other positions we need such as at centre-back’.
“I’m not sure how you get Fernandes and Van de Beek in the same team without making yourself vulnerable and Solskjaer hasn’t selected them together.”
After van de Beek’s arrival, United completed late deals for Edinson Cavani, Alex Telles, Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo.
You can’t tell me they planned to wait until the very last hours of the transfer window then go and get Cavani?
Graeme Souness
Solskjaer, 47, has previously insisted that he signs off each and every arrival into Old Trafford.
And while the Red Devils do not have a sporting director to oversee transfers, the influence of Ed Woodward is thought to be considerable.
Before last month’s late spree, Solskjaer claimed he had ‘been backed’ even though United missed out on Jadon Sancho.
For Souness, the deadline day action was a sign the club lacks a long-term vision.
The 67-year-old continued: “It strikes me that the signing of Van de Beek went something like this: ‘Who’s the best available this summer? Let’s get him. Do we really need him? No, we’ve other priorities, but let’s take him anyway’.
“Then they signed a 33-year-old striker on deadline day that everybody knows has been available all year on a free transfer in Edinson Cavani.
“It was like a rerun of the late loan deal for Odion Ighalo last season.
“Where’s the forward planning? United are in that unenviable position where whoever they sign has to come in and perform on day one.
“It’s not like it was under Fergie for the best part of 20 years, where they could buy players then introduce them slowly but surely.
“If you can’t sign your first choices, then hold your nerve and keep your powder dry. Those are important football decisions, but I don’t think football people are making them.
“From the outside looking in, these signings tell a worrying story for United.
“They don’t need another No10, but they get one; they need another centre half, but don’t get one.
“You can’t tell me they planned to wait until the very last hours of the transfer window then go and get Cavani?”
Football agents have not backed United’s decision to sign Edinson Cavani
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
