Neville has Man Utd transfer theory due to ‘interesting’ Van de Beek situation
Gary Neville believes Manchester United signed Donny van de Beek in anticipation for another midfielder leaving.
The Dutchman arrived in the summer with a wealth of expectation on his shoulders.
But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opted against giving Van de Beek gametime in the Premier League, to the annoyance of United fans.
And Neville admits he can't get his head around paying £40m for a player who isn't going to play.
“It’s interesting, something’s happened – the Van de Beek signing’s an interesting one – I still can’t get my head around it. It’s almost as if that signing was sort of done in anticipation of one of the others leaving because Van de Beek has just sat on the bench for the last few months and he cost £40m," he told TeamTalk.
“I think that Manchester United are preparing for someone leaving. Maybe [Paul] Pogba could leave, so they’ve already got Van de Beek in to maybe assume that role.
“But I think now, the way Paul Pogba’s playing and the way Manchester United’s season is going, there’s no going to come in in January and buy Paul Pogba; I don’t think Manchester United would let him go.”
Pogba looks destined to leave United after repeatedly going public with his desire to move elsewhere.
And Neville thinks Solskjaer has handled the Frenchman's situation well after clashing with agent Mino Raiola.
“The way Ole handled the Raiola comments was masterful,” he added.
“He knew he was going to have him at least until the end of the season. He’s sort of poured cold water over it and he’s now got him performing and proven to have handled that situation really well.
“So I would say Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves real credit for how he’s dealt with Pogba in the last couple of months. It could have easily blown up, going out of Europe and his agent making those comments.
"But he handled it brilliantly and his man-management of that situation incredibly well.”
Pogba starts this afternoon against Liverpool at Anfield.
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