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Manchester United v Tottenham team news: Bailly starts for MUFC

Manchester United take on former manager Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford this a...



Manchester United v Tottenham...
Soccer

Manchester United v Tottenham team news: Bailly starts for MUFC

Manchester United take on former manager Jose Mourinho's Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford this afternoon, and the teams have been released.

Eric Bailly starts for Manchester United in place of Victor Lindelof, alongside Harry Maguire in the centre of defence.

 

Manchester United

As Manchester United appear close to finalising the signature of Edinson Cavani, Gary Neville took aim at the United hierarchy for their transfer strategy.

"I just don't think they're smart enough," remarked Neville of those charged with doing United's business in the transfer market.

"They're being outwitted in the market by other clubs and if you lose in recruitment then you don't win the league. Simple as that."

Speaking at an OTB Sports Cadbury FC remote roadshow, Neville believes that the club's shortcomings on this front will leave Solskjaer incapable of meeting what is expected of Manchester United on the field also.

"Ole has a period where he can win the league," explained Neville of the demands ultimately associated with the role.

"He has been there one-and-a-half seasons and this is the third he is starting now. He won't be expected to win the league this season but maybe next season, in his fourth, he would be expected to.

"But he can't win the league, it is impossible. You are tying a manager's hands behind his back if you're not giving him the players he needs."

Despite praising the club's policy for attempting to recruit younger players since Solskjaer's arrival, Neville is perplexed at Manchester United's inability to deliver on deals.

"I just don't think they're smart enough and wise enough and agile enough in the market," he stated, before drawing attention to their ongoing attempts at signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.

"It is embarrassing, it has been going on for about four months now and it is just embarrassing. To put a bid in that gets rejected, smarter clubs have everything sorted beforehand and when the bid goes in it is accepted.

"Who puts bids in nowadays that doesn't get accepted? That doesn't happen that often. I know that it happened with Leeds United and Ben White, but they knew the player and were just trying to apply some pressure probably.

"Generally, clubs have the deals sorted before a bid goes in. It smacks of... I don't know, it just isn't great."

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Manchester United Mourinho Solskjaer Spurs Tottenham