Arsenal great Paul Merson believes Manchester United's decision to sign Donny van de Beek this summer is a panic buy.
The Dutchman became United's first summer signing earlier this week, completing a £40million move from Ajax. Van de Beek signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with the option of a further year.
Van de Beek was widely expected to join Real Madrid this summer and his agent confirmed Arsenal and Barcelona were among the clubs vying for his signature before United sealed a deal for the 23-year-old.
Merson is not impressed with the decision to sign Van de Beek and believes United only swooped for the midfielder to appease fans who were desperate to see new faces at the club.
"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.
"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."
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