Manchester United legend Bryan Robson has revealed the club turned to him for advice on who to sign in midfield – only to ignore his suggestions.
United lag behind their traditional rivals in midfield, a problem area of the pitch that has been unresolved or patched up with temporary solutions for a number of years.
Since the retirement of Paul Scholes in 2013 and Michael Carrick in 2018, United have lacked a controlling presence in the middle of the park. While the club record signing of Paul Pogba was meant to be a long-term fix, United’s woes are worse than ever.
Bruno Fernandes currently occupies a deeper midfield role, paired with Casemiro who despite years at the highest level, is a declining force. Manuel Ugarte has done little to justify the £50million spent on him last year while Kobbie Mainoo is unable to get a game.
Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea boast some of the most formidable midfield set-ups in Europe with former United captain Robson a huge admirer of Declan Rice, who joined the Gunners for £105million in 2023.
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Robson claims he and fellow United legend Denis Irwin were hired in a consultancy role over prospective new signings with both urging the club to sign Rice when it became clear he was ready to leave West Ham United.
Now a vital part of Mikel Arteta’s title-chasing team, United have missed their chance.
‘When the club got me and Denis Irwin on board and we had 10 months where they got our opinion, me and Dennis said you should sign Declan Rice, and I’m still in that opinion,’ Robson told OLBG.
‘If I could get a midfielder player, it would be Declan Rice because he’s still a decent age and got plenty of years left. I just think he does most things on a football pitch.’
Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have signed Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind, Morgan Schneiderlin, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Fred, Donny van de Beek, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Ugarte in midfield.
While some of those names did provide a few good seasons of service, it is a list that can be categorised by players past their best or not good enough in the first place.
United were interested in signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton during the summer transfer window but Robson is also eager for the club to make a move for Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton.
The former England international also claims Wharton was interested in a move to Old Trafford before he left Blackburn for Palace.
‘I think Adam Wharton is a very, very good player and the challenge of Man United might bring the best out of him but he has done great at Palace over the last couple of seasons. He is one who you would definitely look at.
‘But I think when he left Blackburn, he wanted to come to United at that time, so maybe we’ve missed out there.’
