MANCHESTER UNITED should have tried to land Conor Coady to cover the shortfalls of ex-captain Harry Maguire.
That’s according to former Arsenal playmaker Paul Merson.
Everton confirmed the signing of Coady from Wolves in a season-long loan on Monday.
While the Red Devils went on to get battered 4-0 at Brentford on Saturday after defensive woes handed the Bees a head start.
And Merson, 54, reckons Coady would have been perfect for Erik ten Hag’s back line to help out England international Maguire.
He told Sky Sports: “They should have been going for Conor Coady, they need to play three at the back!
READ MORE ON MAN UTD
“Maguire, I don’t want to keep going on, but Maguire can’t run. You need to play a five at the back.
“Play in a three, he’s a very good player. Comes out with the ball, he can pass it, he’s a defender and he can get tighter.
“When he’s playing in a four he can’t go and engage because if he gets left one versus one, he’s going to struggle.”
The ex-Gooner went on to add that the Old Trafford club have found it difficult to sign top players this summer.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
And he revealed he thinks it’s because NO ONE wants to play for them.
Merson declared: “No one wants to go to Manchester United.
“It’s horrible but no one does. Their main rivals are Liverpool who are much better.
“They’ve got the team next door [Manchester City] who are the best team about at the moment.
“Footballers ain’t silly. Anyone pays money now. It”s not like Man Utd are the big payers.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk