Manchester United’s former first-team coach Rene Meulensteen has made a stunning claim that if his old side sign Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane they’ll win the Premier League.
Meulensteen, 56, was United’s first-team coach from 2008 to 2013 and was a crucial member of Sir Alex Ferguson’s backroom staff as the Reds went onto win three Premier League titles, two League Cups and one Champions League during the same period.
The former Dutch coach has spoken about what he believes former side’s summer transfer policy should be as well as addressing the prospect of new-signing Donny van de Beek fitting into a midfield three and weighs-in on where he feels Paul Pogba’s long-term future is.
Speaking to reporter and presenter Jim White on TalkSPORT, Meulensteen claimed that current manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer transfer priority should be a striker, he said: “Obviously, there was a big, big gap there last year and I think the gap started sort of in the early part of the season.
“What is vitally important is that United are going to have a really good start to the season so they don’t lose any ground, they are in there and they keep competing.
“Because that will grow the belief.
“I think we are maybe another good signing away; I keep saying they should bring in a really top, top striker.
“I think, for instance, if you were able to get [Harry] Kane – I don’t think they would be able to get him – I would say yes, they will compete for the title next year.”
Meulensteen went onto address the possibility of new signing Donny van de Beek being able to flourish in a midfield three alongside Pogba and Bruno Fernandes after Danny Murphy suggested van de Beek’s signing could signal the end of Pogba’s United career, he said: “I can see where Danny [Murphy] is coming from, in terms of playing basically three attacking-minded midfield players in one midfield.
“In certain games, you can get away with it because good footballers will always find a way to play with each other.
“But if you come up against stronger opposition, then they will leave themselves short defensively because they are all not really defensive-minded players.
“I can see where Danny comes from, so to insinuate does that mean Paul Pogba is gone? I’m not too sure.
“I think there has been so many speculations over the past two seasons, when it came to the end of last season it became a bit more obvious that Ole made it clear he wanted to keep Pogba. I’m not too sure whether he will go.”
