‘You should be worried not celebrating’: Paul Merson says Manchester United fans should be very worried about one transfer deal they just completed last night
Manchester United fans should be worried about the signing of Sergio Reguilon, according to pundit Paul Merson.
Manchester United decided to look to the transfer market to solve an emerging left-back crisis amid injuries to both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
United struck a deal to sign Sergio Reguilon on loan from Tottenham, who will provide experienced cover.
Tottenham signed Reguilon for £28 million from Sevilla in 2020, but he fell out of favour after changes in management and also had a loan spell at Atletico Madrid last season.
Merson questions Reguilon move
Sergio Reguilon was not thought to have been United’s first choice. That was Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella. Marca had reported the deal was ‘very close’.
However talks broke down, with Chelsea wanting an excessive loan fee. United walked away, with no loan fee required for Reguilon.
Pundit Paul Merson told Sky Sports that Manchester United should be worried about the lack of funds.
He said: “Reguilon? If you’re a Man Utd fan you’re a bit worried. Cucurella – Chelsea wanted £7m and they couldn’t put up the £7m to take a good player on loan.
“And Liverpool are turning down £150m fees. What is happening here? Where are Man Utd going at the moment?”
Merson both right and wrong
Merson is both right and wrong. With a loan required for just a few months, a £7 million loan fee for Marc Cucurella was massively excessive, and he was also on higher wages than Reguilon. So United have been sensible not to bow to Chelsea’s demands.
But on a wider level, he is right to raise questions about Manchester United’s lack of spending power, constrained by Financial Fair Play and poor decision making from the Glazers over the years.
United were unable to afford to buy Sofyan Amrabat, and had to settle for a loan deal, highlighting the lack of available funds at Old Trafford.
Erik ten Hag’s voice matters
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is the voice which matters, and he is pleased with the acquisition of Sergio Reguilon.
He told his press conference: “He is a very experienced player, a player for big clubs, a player that’s played already a lot of games in La Liga, in the Premier League.
“So, he has a very good background, we have seen he can play very intense football, so we are happy.
“While we had a problem with Luke Shaw injured, Ty[rell] Malacia injured, they are, for [the] long term, out, so I think we responded very well in that emergency situation.”
