Virgil van Dijk cited in ‘exciting’ Man United transfer claim – pundit
Man United could attract Michael Edwards to oversee their “exciting” project, according to Noel Whelan.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Premier League and England Under-21 striker hailed Edwards’ work at Liverpool as he brought Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to the club.
The Daily Mail reported last week (22 June) that Man United want to bring the 42-year-old to Old Trafford as he called time on his 11-year stint at Liverpool.
As the club’s sporting director he helped build that squad that won the Champions League and a first Premier League title in 30 years.
“What it [Man United] is is a project and a long-term one,” Whelan told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“Identifying players like Alisson and Van Dijk was crucial as they were areas where Liverpool were so vulnerable and they managed to plug that gap and be unbelievable signings.
“They were the missing pieces of the jigsaw at the time. They were attacking-minded but vulnerable defensively. They needed that leader at the back and someone between the sticks.
“He identified that and put the money to good use. It was a lot of money but it was worth it when you look at how successful they’ve been with those two players over a period of time.
“There is a lot of work to be done at Man United, we all know that. He’s got a real job on his hands if he goes to Man United but it’s an exciting one.
“You’re starting from scratch pretty much with some good players and there’s some money there to spend.
“What they’ve not done in the past five or six years is spend it wisely on the right players and the right characters.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire can’t believe a Man United “myth” as a £600million announcement is on the cards.