David Meyler thinks Manchester United have a plan for Donny van de Beek - and it involves him filling the shoes of Paul Pogba when the Frenchman ultimately leaves Old Trafford.
Van de Beek was signed from Ajax during the summer transfer window but has found opportunities limited at the club, and he hasn't started a Premier League game under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yet.
Former Sunderland and Republic of Ireland midfielder Meyler told OTB AM that he feels van de Beek's time in Manchester will eventually come.
"When he switched formation [against PSG], Pogba came 0n, a lot of people say Pogba changed the game, I would say it was more the formation. You have to give credit where it's due, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got that decision right.
"There's no doubting Paul Pogba is world-class, he has every attribute to be, and we've seen glimpses of it. The Pogba that plays for France and the Pogba that plays for Manchester United are totally different.
"He is an exceptional player and I won't have anyone tell me different - I went up against him enough times to know what he brings to the table.
"Manchester United have kicked in this extra year on his contract. I think they've signed Donny van de Beek thinking that they're going to sell Pogba.
"I think it's kind of a case of putting him in the shop window. I think they're going to play Pogba and if a substantial offer comes in in January or the summer, they'll move him on."
Meyler says United will be keen to avoid a situation similar to that at Arsenal, with Mesut Ozil not in Mikel Arteta's plans and not named in their Premier League or Europa League squads this season.
"You see the situation Arsenal are in with Ozil - he's on a lot of money, he's in the last year of his contract, they're looking now to move on. I don't think Manchester United want to find themselves in that [position] where it comes to January... and Pogba starts negotiating a deal [with Real Madrid].
Happy to make my debut for @manutd tonight, but disappointed with the result. We keep our heads up and go for our next game on Tuesday👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/1b0DYFr9IC
— Donny van de Beek (@Donny_beek6) September 19, 2020
"I think they will look to say 'If you want to go and we get a substantial offer, then you can go.' They then have Donny van de Beek to step right in.
"Fred and McTominay have really stepped up in their level of performance. If you look at someone like Scott McTominay, a lot of Manchester United fans wouldn't have had him down as one of the starters, but then you look at the performance away at Paris Saint-Germain, he was incredible for the 90 minutes.
"They've got Donny van de Beek, Pogba, Bruno, Fred, Matic, fellas are going to miss out. If I was to pick a midfield three my three would be McTominay, Pogba, and Bruno.
"You'd have to work hard enough at Pogba to get him disciplined enough, or else I would play McTominay sitting, he has more legs than Fred, he's more energetic, and he's probably more disciplined. I would play him with the two in front."
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