Summer signing Donny van de Beek is struggling for game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Solskjaer’s marquee summer signing Donny van de Beek is struggling for game time at Old Trafford.
Thomas Partey joined the Gunners on the deadline day after Arsenal triggered his £45million release clause.
View this post on Instagram
The Ghanian midfielder had a positive start to his career at the Premier League and former Liverpool winger John Barnes believes United should have signed Partey to improve the squad’s leaky defence.
Barnes told Bonus Code Bets: ‘People assume that if you come from Ajax and cost £40m, then you are going to get a player like Johan Cruyff but it’s never going to happen.
‘He [Van de Beek] will be a good player for United eventually, but they have to get the balance right in how they want to play and where he fits into that.
‘Currently, Manchester United want to play pretty football by having lots of flair players, which he doesn’t fit into so now he is getting criticised by fans and pundits because that is not the way he plays.
‘At a team like United where everyone is so inconsistent, you are going to get judged when you aren’t a flair player.
‘Someone like Bruno Fernandes who looks good even when the team isn’t playing well, won’t get criticised, but as van de Beek isn’t one of those players who will take the game by the scruff of the neck, he will get judged.’
Barnes added: ‘Manchester United are in need of a midfielder who will sit in front of the defence and protect them.
‘United are at the stage now where they believe that they need players who, like Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes, are great on the ball and very attack-minded.
‘However, with the way things are portrayed now, for £40m, if you aren’t doing something that is eye-catching, then you are considered a waste of money.
‘Donny van de Beek is not a flair player like Pogba or Fernandes and can’t get people off their seats in the same way.
‘Manchester United have conceded lots of goals already this season and could have done with a player like Thomas Partey. He would have made them much more defensively sound.’
See More:Â Top 10 things you didn’t know about David De Gea
