Donny van de Beek “ looks like a panic buy ” who may struggle to fit in with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, Paul Merson explodes … claiming Ajax man was taken to Old Trafford just to appease the fans
- Manchester United signed a £ 40 million deal for Donny van de Beek this week
- The player will form an exciting connection with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes
- Paul Merson believes Van de Beek’s signing is a panic buy for the Red Devils
- The expert says the 23-year-old was signed only to please United fans
Paul Merson has criticized Manchester United’s decision to sign Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, labeling the new Red Devils midfielder a “panic buy”.
The 23-year-old arrived at Old Trafford on a £ 40m deal this week from Dutch giants, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made his first foray into the summer market window.
Van de Beek is ready to team up with fellow United stars Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba at the heart of Solskjaer’s squad, but Sky Sports expert Merson believes the Dutchman only arrived because the club wants to please fans with any new purchase.
Manchester United made a panic buy to Donny van de Beek (above), says Paul Merson
Merson thinks Manchester United bought Van de Beek just to appease fans with a signature
Merson told the Daily Star: ‘Donny van de Beek looks like a panic signing at Manchester United. I do not understand.
‘They just spent £ 40m on a position they are already strong in and how do you play with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes?
‘You must have someone who can play the role of keeper. That signature seemed to me: “Oh, we haven’t bought anyone yet, let’s go buy someone, who can we get?” ‘
Merson says Van de Beek won’t fit Paul Pogba (left) and Bruno Fernandes (right)
Before signing Van de Beek, Manchester United were frustrated in the transfer window for not catching winger Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
The 20-year-old England international was the subject of an offer from the Red Devils but was unable to agree a quota with Dortmund before the German club’s 10 August deadline to close the deal.
Solskjaer and his team could return for Sancho between now and the end of the transfer window on 5 October. They have also been linked to RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano this summer.
Van de Beek played 175 times for Dutch giants Ajax, scoring 41 goals for his childhood club
Van de Beek arrives at Old Trafford after climbing the ranks of Ajax boys’ club. The 23-year-old made 175 appearances for Ajax first team, scoring 41 goals.
He was part of the squad that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 and scored in every single knockout round until the round of 16 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.
Van de Beek has also been picked ten times by the Dutch international in the past three years, but has failed to find the net.
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