Dwight Yorke has made his feelings clear on one Manchester United star and sent a warning to Erik ten Hag about the player ahead of the new season.
Erik ten Hag has been busy with Manchester United’s pre-season tour this month, with the Red Devils now in the United States for the second leg of their campaign.
United were defeated 1-0 by Norwegian side Rosenborg in the opener of their pre-season tour before bouncing back with a 2-0 win against Rangers in Scotland.
United were in action against Premier League rivals Arsenal on Sunday and the Red Devils suffered their second defeat in their pre-season tour.
Arsenal defeated Ten Hag’s men 2-1 at the SoFi Stadium, despite striker Rasmus Hojlund opening the scoring in the first half for United.
Yorke talks Man Utd star
Along with the pre-season tour, Erik ten Hag has seen changes to his first-team Manchester United squad since the summer transfer window opened.
Several former United players have already left Old Trafford this summer, including the likes of Donny van de Beek, Mason Greenwood and Willy Kambwala.
United have also completed the signings of defender Leny Yoro from Ligue 1 outfit Lille and striker Joshua Zirkzee from Serie A side Bologna.
Joshua Zirkzee, who United signed in a deal worth £36.54m, has been absent from the pre-season tour after representing the Netherlands at Euro 2024 in Germany.
Dwight Yorke has admitted that he has a “red flag” over the fee that United paid for Zirkzee and questioned why the former Bologna man isn’t a starter for his country.
“Manchester United are bringing in Leny Yoro and asking an 18-year-old to come in at such a difficult time and asking them to help raise your own level,” he said, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“The Premier League is the toughest place to sort of apply your trade for the first time.
“Then you’ve got Joshua Zirkzee, who seems to have a decent season with Bologna and could make an impact, but you have to ask why he is not a starter for Holland.
“That’s a red flag for me when you come in at United for that sort of fee. In recent years, the club have brought in middle-of-the-road players rather than the creme de la creme players that they should be getting.”
Man Utd legend Yorke on Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee offers Ten Hag an alternative attacking option to Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, who limped off with an injury in the pre-season defeat to Arsenal.
Ten Hag was in need of a new striking option this summer after Anthony Martial left Old Trafford at the end of the season following his contract expiring.
Yorke admitted that Zirkzee has what it takes to “light up the Premier League,” but the United legend remains sceptical about the 23-year-old Netherlands striker.
“United should be signing the very best players in Holland and the best players in whatever national team they are playing for,” he continued.
“United are not in the position to do that anymore and it worries me.
“I’m not saying the kid is not a good player. I’m not saying that he definitely can’t go and light up the Premier League, but why is he not playing in the Holland first team?
“Is he great for Bologna but he’s not good for the Holland national team? Does that mean he can’t be that great for United? But we can only judge him on that at the end of the season.”
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/3BvuYlx