Pundit blasts Manchester United over Van de Beek ‘panic buy’

Paul Merson has branded Donny van de Beek “a panic buy” for Manchester United.

Van de Beek became United’s first signing of the summer after joining from Ajax for around £35m.

The Dutchman will be the 20th Van man in Premier League history and joins an already strong midfield at Old Trafford, which both he and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer referenced upon his arrival.

But surviving Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson cannot understand the logic.

“Donny van de Beek looks like a panic buy at Manchester United,” he told the Daily Star.

“I don’t get it. They just spent £40m on a position where they are already strong. And how does he play with Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes? You have to have someone who can play the holding role.”

Read this, big man.

“That signing looked to me like: ‘Oh we haven’t bought anyone yet, let’s go and buy someone, who can we get?’ When you look at their midfield, Fred was improving, and they’ve got Scott McTominay. Now they won’t get a game.

“And they just gave Nemanja Matic a new contract. Would they have done that if they knew they were getting Van de Beek? It makes no sense to me. Who is making these decisions?

“It’s like them going for Jadon Sancho. If they sign Sancho, Greenwood doesn’t play. For me they need another centre back.”

Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano has been linked as Ed Woodward hopes to provide Solskjaer with a squad that can compete on four different fronts.