People have been pointing fingers at Manchester United, saying they’ve signed an attacker but left the back door open.
Believe me, they always had a keeper covered, although it seemed pretty obvious to me they were never going to offer David de Gea the contract he wanted. If they really wanted him, they’d have given him a deal straight away.
The fact they didn’t point to the rumours being true – Erik ten Hag did not rate De Gea’s ability with the ball at his feet and his quality of distribution, which is one of the most important assets a keeper can have these days. Don’t be fooled into thinking there was a lack of planning or panic over FIFA fair play rules or the Premier League equivalent. United always had money to spend on a keeper… and a centre-forward too.
It seems like they have done a deal for Inter’s Andre Onana, and that makes sense because his distribution is sensational, and he played for Ten Hag at Ajax. So all that stuff about having no money to spend was just a bluff.
Why? Well, maybe it’s because they know they have to sign at least two more players – because I still reckon Ten Hag will want to bring in a proper goalscorer, and all this misinformation about spending limits suggests their target is still Harry Kane!
I simply don’t believe they have to limit their spending this summer. They are Manchester United, and there are always ways to raise funds. Kane makes sense to me. I’ve said in this column before, I believe he’ll stay in the Premier League because he wants to smash the all-time scoring record.
But Spurs are absolutely miles away from winning the big trophies so he’ll have to move, and United looks the most obvious destination. All this talk of having no money to spend is perhaps aimed at keeping the Kane fee down, as he only has a year left on his contract.
It’s the other signing that intrigues me though. I think if United do have problems this summer, then it’s in defence. They’ve got loads of centre-halves but does Ten Hag believe in any of them bar Lisandro Martinez?
OK, he rates Raphael Varane, but his injury record isn’t encouraging. It is clear he doesn’t believe in Harry Maguire, even though he’s an England regular. I do think the centre-half will leave this summer – but it will be on his own terms.
It makes me laugh, all this talk of loyalty. It’s a one-way street, isn’t it?
Players are expected to be loyal, but when they are not wanted they are also expected to clear off immediately. It doesn’t work like that. I don’t think Maguire is the sort of person who would just hang around to pick up the cash, like a Winston Bogarde, for instance.
He’ll want to play. But he’s not going to go to any old club. He’ll wait and pick the right move for him. When you think United have already got rid of Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzabe, and Eric Bailly seems certain to leave too, then if Maguire goes, they’ll definitely need a replacement, especially with the many injury issues they have had.
All I can say is good luck with that one. Top-class centre-halves cost as much as world-class goalscorers these days, as Manchester City are finding out! They will need to dig deep – but Manchester United will find the money.
