Legendary Manchester United players Roy Keane and Gary Neville have said that it is not suitable for the manager to have complete control over the club’s transfer dealings.
With Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at the club, the INEOS chairman is set to get complete control over the transfers and player recruitment.
In an attempt to bring United back to its former glory, Erik ten Hag has expressed his desire to collaborate with INEOS on several occasions in the past.
Currently, the Dutch manager enjoys complete autonomy over the club’s transfers. According to reports, the Dutchman has a great deal of control over the players he wants to add to his team because of certain clauses in his contract.
Under the new hierarchy, ten Hag will not have complete freedom to make decisions on the clubs incomings and outgoings.
While talking on The Stick to Football podcast, Neville and Keane argued that a manager’s main duties should be teaching and player development, not worrying about the market.
Neville said:
“Why should the manager be responsible for spending £80million and £20m in salary for four years on a player, when they could potentially only be there for year or two – why should they be the one who signs the player?”
“What happens is you go into a window [with] all good intentions, all on the same page thinking, ‘we need four players’, and you pick the profile of the player that you want. He’s got to be six foot, he’s got to hold the ball up, he’s got to score 10 to 15 goals – you’re looking for that profile and then basically what you want is your head of recruitment, your sporting director and your team of scouts to go out there and bring back three or four really good options, and they bring back those three or four options to the table.”
“The problem is, if you don’t get those three or four because they’re not available of some kind, or the manager doesn’t like them, that’s when you end up in a spin.”
Keane agreed with Neville and added:
“There is this idea that managers should call the shots, but it is difficult. I’ve been a manager and bought players – I bought some decent ones, but I look back and think, ‘what was I thinking with some?’”
“Of course, you have your staff and the chief of operations, but ultimately it would come down to the manager. But I’ve had it as well, when I’ve been at a club where the owner has pushed for a player, I’ve been reluctant, but the player has come in and not been very good.”
There has to be some agreement when picking a player for United,the fee why do we pay exhorbitant amount to get a player,other clubs pay less,the wages paid,if we wish to sell at a later date,other clubscannot afford the wage bill.also theability of that player.Onana martial sanches and the worst buy of all,Anthony,these were all bad buys.This has to be addressed.