Former Manchester United man Alan Smith doesn’t believe Erik ten Hag should be trying to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise.
Smith, who joined United from Leeds in 2004, came to Old Trafford as a striker and later transitioned into a midfield hybrid. He has warned his former club that they “can’t just keep throwing money” away.
As a result, the former England international thinks United need to be signing players who have already played for a huge club before signing them and this could end up the same way as when Wilfried Zaha struggled at Old Trafford following his 2013 transfer from Selhurst Park.
Speaking to BritishGambler.co.uk, as per Goal, Smith said: “I feel like I wouldn’t be rushing into anything at this moment in time. That’s where United have been over the last few years with their recruitment policy. This again might be ‘Are we jumping in because we need something?’
“For Man United not to get Champions League this year, everyone will see as a big problem, but if you’re gonna rebuild, make sure that the structure is correct and you’re buying the correct personnel. We aren’t just buying someone for this transfer window, we are buying them for five years.
“It might sound like we are giving up this season, but we can’t just keep throwing money at it and see if it works, and that has never been the Man United way.”
Olise registered a goal and two assists against Sheffield United on Tuesday night.
There will be a new approach to United’s recruitment in the summer, with INEOS set to lead football operations instead of puppets hired by the Glazer family.
Smith added: “I think regardless of who they are, it needs to the right fit – do the characteristics fit. Are we going down the same route as the signing of Wilfried Zaha? There’s a huge difference between playing for Crystal Palace and Man United and sometimes if you’ve not done the research on the player’s personality, you’re taking a chance on anybody coming to Man United.
“Have they played at a huge club? Have they played at a club that demands the same expectations as Man United? That’s where the short-term of going do we just sign someone because we need somebody, instead of signing someone for the future of the club. Playing at a big club has to be the remit. Playing at a club with the same standards.”
It is easy to reflect on Zaha’s time at United as a failure, but I would argue that the managers he had at Old Trafford didn’t have enough patience to work on his development. He returned to Palace and became a fine player before signing for Galatasaray last summer.
While Olise is considered to be one of the Premier League’s rising stars, it is worth noting that he has suffered two hamstring injuries this season. We don’t need more sick notes in the dressing room!
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