Graeme Souness slams Man United and questions arrivals of Donny Van de Beek and Edinson Cavani

‘I’m still not convinced Solskjaer is making the key decisions’: Graeme Souness slams Man United and questions arrivals of Van de Beek and Cavani as he insists they WON’T win trophies with ‘non-football’ minds making the signings

  • Manchester United’s summer transfer business has come under more scrutiny 
  • Graeme Souness believes boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may not be in total control 
  • The pundit questioned the signings of Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani 
  • He also believes the club will not take the next step without a radical overhaul 

Graeme Souness believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not fully in control of Manchester United’s transfer business and has questioned the club’s recent big name additions.

Donny van de Beek arrived from Ajax in a deal worth £40million this summer, penning a five-year contract, and was joined by veteran frontman Edinson Cavani on deadline day after his PSG deal expired.

But despite the club eventually splashing the cash, Sky Sports pundit Souness sensationally insisted Van de Beek’s arrival made little sense due to Bruno Fernandes’ impressive form.

Graeme Souness has questioned whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes key transfer decisions

Graeme Souness has questioned whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes key transfer decisions

The Sky Sports pundit (above) reserved particular criticism for United's questionable signings

The Sky Sports pundit (above) reserved particular criticism for United’s questionable signings

In his column for The Times, he wrote: ‘I’m still not convinced that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making the key football decisions at Manchester United. 

‘I come to that conclusion on the basis of their recruitment in recent windows. I like Donny Van de Beek, but United didn’t need another No 10 this summer after the success of Bruno Fernandes in the second half of last season.

‘That makes me wonder who is sitting round the table, saying: “These are the priority positions.” Did Solskjaer have a say in Van de Beek coming to the club? 

Donny van de Beek has been forced to wait patiently for game time after joining from Ajax

Donny van de Beek has been forced to wait patiently for game time after joining from Ajax

Edinson Cavani also arrived in the transfer window on a free after leaving Paris Saint-Germain

Edinson Cavani also arrived in the transfer window on a free after leaving Paris Saint-Germain

‘Then they signed a 33-year-old striker on deadline day that everybody knows has been available all year on a free transfer in Edinson Cavani. It was like a rerun of the late loan deal for Odion Ighalo last season.’ 

The club’s hierarchy have often been criticised by an increasingly irate fanbase for a number of questionable decisions over recent seasons. 

There were protests outside executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward’s house last season with supporters frustrated at the running of their club, and the owners, the much-maligned Glazer family, have also caught flak.

Souness says the instability raging in the boardroom has impeded United’s ability to carefully piece together a blueprint for future business – and also reserved particular criticism for the club’s willingness to lurch from target to target.

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been much maligned by the club's fanbase

United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has been much maligned by the club’s fanbase

Their owners, the Glazer family, have also received regular criticism since taking over the club

Their owners, the Glazer family, have also received regular criticism since taking over the club

‘Where’s the forward planning?’ he added. ‘United are in that unenviable position where whoever they sign has to come in and perform on day one. 

‘If you can’t sign your first choices, then hold your nerve and keep your powder dry. Those are important football decisions, but I don’t think football people are making them.’

The club recovered from a nightmare start to the new campaign after notable wins over Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, but Souness fervently believes United will not take the next step without a radical overhaul of their recruitment department.  

He said: ‘The problem is they won’t win the Premier League or the Champions League with non-football people picking the players they sign.’

Souness insists United will not make the step up with 'non-football' figures making the choices

Souness insists United will not make the step up with ‘non-football’ figures making the choices

source: dailymail.co.uk