Gary Neville makes ‘let down’ transfer claim as Man Utd ‘consider’ Chelsea transfer hijack

Manchester United are picking up the pieces following a fresh setback over the weekend.

Erik ten Hag’s men missed the chance to take a big step towards rubber-stamping Champions League football in their clash with direct rivals Newcastle United, coming off second best at St James’ Park. Instead, the result is that Newcastle have moved into third, with United dropping to fourth, just one point ahead of Tottenham, though the Red Devils do still have a game in hand to play.

As United search for a way to bounce back, we have rounded up all the latest news surrounding Old Trafford.

Neville verdict

Gary Neville believes Ten Hag was ‘let down’ by the United board during the January window.

“He was badly let down, Erik ten Hag, in January, if you look at it. Because that Cristiano Ronaldo interview with Piers Morgan was done in November,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “He was always going to leave at the start of the World Cup. Manchester United then had six weeks before the transfer window began.

“They made a conscious decision not to give Erik ten Hag the money because they have not got the money. They made a conscious decision to tell him he was going to have to bring somebody in on loan. Who is going to loan Manchester United a world-class striker in January? Nobody is going to do that.

“I do not blame Wout Weghorst at all. He has done a really good job. He is a placeholder for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, and I think he is doing absolutely everything he can do out there on the pitch. He is obviously not good enough to be a Manchester United striker. But they needed support in January.

“They lost Ronaldo, they lost Edinson Cavani in the summer, and Anthony Martial was injured. You cannot play without a centre-forward. To play football really well your centre-forward and your goalkeeper have to play well. It is just a rule. He does not always play well. So, for me, Erik ten Hag was let down badly in January by the club in the sense that they have this £900million of debt and they could not afford to bring in anyone else. That is the harsh reality of it.”

Felix claim

United are said to be interested in snapping up current Chelsea loan star Joao Felix.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the Red Devils are considering making a move for the Portuguese star in the summer, when his loan spell at Chelsea will expire. Felix is on loan with Chelsea but with no option to buy, meaning there could be an opportunity for another club this summer, should Atletico Madrid look to cash in permanently.

It’s claimed United could make a move, but it is likely the deal would cost them more than £90million.