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Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Photo: Sky Sports)
Paul Merson has called Manchester United’s new signing Donny van de Beek a “panic buy”.
The Red Devils signed the Dutch international to a £ 40 million deal with Ajax on Wednesday to finally secure his first new arrival in the 2020 summer transfer window.
The 23-year-old put pen to paper on a five-year contract with Manchester United after the 20-time English champions were left with FC Barcelona and Manchester United.
Van de Beek will be in charge of building an understanding with first-choice midfielders Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba, in this season’s Premier League.
The Dutch midfielder will likely compete with Nemanja Matic, Fred and Scott McTominay for the last starting spot in the Manchester United manager’s midfield.
Van de Beek came to Manchester United with a high reputation after a comeback of 41 goals in 175 games during his five seasons as a starter at Manchester United.
But former Arsenal midfielder Merson described Van de Beek as a “panic buy”, adding that Manchester United should have prioritized hiring a new central midfielder.
“Donny van de Beek looks like a Manchester United panic buy,” Merson told the Daily Star.
“I do not get it. They have just spent £ 40 million in a position where they are already strong and how does he play Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes?
“You have to have someone who can play the role of fork. That signature was like, ‘Oh we haven’t bought from anybody yet, let’s go and buy from someone, who can we get?’
“When you look at their midfield, Fred was improving and they have 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 going to get Van de Beek? ‘It doesn’t make sense to me. Who makes these decisions?
“It’s like they were after Jadon Sancho. If they sign Sancho, Mason Greenwood doesn’t play. For me they need another central “.
Van de Beek won the Eredivisie title and the Dutch Cup during his time at Ajax, as well as losing to Manchester United in the 2017 Europa League final.
Manchester United finished third in the Premier League table last season, but Solskjaer’s side lost in the semi-finals of the Europa League, FA Cup and Europa League.
The Red Devils will be delayed starting the Premier League campaign when they face Crystal Palace on Saturday 19 September.
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