Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man Utd news: Huge Liverpool transfer claim made about Jose Mourinho failings
MANCHESTER UNITED have to be signing the likes of Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri if they want to move to the next level.
Liverpool: Xherdan Shaqiri has been ‘excellent’ says pundit
That is the bold claim of Sky Sports pundit Danny Higginbotham.
After a summer of discontent and a disastrous season to date by Manchester United’s very high standards, Jose Mourinho was sacked and has been replaced by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the end of the season.
Mourinho’s misgivings in the transfer window last summer set the tone for United’s failings on the pitch, and the Portuguese tactician regularly voiced his frustrations.
Across the M62, Jurgen Klopp has presided over a Liverpool side that are top of the Premier League after 17 games and have conceded just seven times.
A total outlay of £170million has reaped the rewards and one of those, Shaqiri, has caught the eye and he hit a double when he came off the bench in their 3-1 win over United last weekend at Anfield.
Higginbotham has questioned United’s transfer policy and reckons players of Shaqiri’s ilk would help them close the gap on their rivals.
“One of the biggest problems has been and I go back to Shaqiri at Liverpool, he’s pushing to be in that starting XI, United wouldn’t have gone and signed him from relegated Stoke," Higginbotham said on The Debate.
United wouldn’t have gone and signed him from relegated Stoke. That’s something that has to change
“That’s something that has to change.
“I look at the signings made by football club, not doubting their ability, but do they necessarily fit the direction the club is going?
“Sometimes when players are signed, they are fantastic players.
“If they’re not fitting the identity, why are certain players being signed?
Liverpool: Klopp should find space for Shaqiri says Lawrenson
“You start to think to yourself ‘Is it Manchester United football club or Manchester United business club’?”
United are currently sixth in the table, 11 points adrift of the top four.
Solskjaer’s first game in charge of the Red Devils is away to Cardiff on Saturday (5.30pm).