Donny van de Beek should have signed for Arsenal and Manchester United didn’t need him, says Ian Wright
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright feels Manchester United have rushed into the signing of Donny van de Beek and the Dutchman would have been better off joining the Gunners.
United’s only incoming business in the window so far has been to sign the former Ajax man, despite links with several left-backs and wide forwards.
The Old Trafford club have also struggled to offload their out-of-favour players, with the likes of Marcos Rojo, Chris Smalling and Andreas Pereira surplus to requirements according to several reports.
Van de Beek scored on his Premier League debut off the bench in the defeat to Crystal Palace, but Wright feels United already have players in his best role and he isn’t what the club need to take a step forward.
"Donny van de Beek, he’s someone that I wish someone more like Arsenal could have taken," Wright said on The Kelly and Wrighty Show.
"When you look at [Paul] Pogba, what he’s doing, and you look at Bruno Fernandes – that is Donny van de Beek’s position.
"So people are thinking they’re going to see Van de Beek [sitting] with Pogba and Fernandes, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, because as much as he can play there, that’s not his preferred position to play.
"Listen, Donny van de Beek will be a good player for Man United in time because he’s a quality player. But is he what they need right now?"
Arsenal have been linked with several midfielders themselves, but mostly those who play a deeper role, including Jorginho, Thomas Partey and Amadou Diawara.
The Gunners are also thought to be keen on Lyon’s attack-minded midfielder Houssem Aouar, who has a reported price tag of around £40 million, slightly more than the fee United have shelled out for Van de Beek.
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