United legend blasts Welbeck price tag
Manchester United legend Gary Neville has questioned the club's wisdom of letting Danny Welbeck join Arsenal.
The Red Devils underwent a summer overhaul that cost them around £150 million ($308m) in new players.
Despite Welbeck's status as a product of United's famous youth academy, the additions of Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao to the club's attacking roster saw the lanky forward leave Old Trafford for English Premier League rivals.
Welbeck's £16m deal was done on transfer deadline day.
With manager Louis van Gaal being handed a top three target by the club, ex-captain Neville thinks it was an unwise decision to strengthen a rival club without demanding more money, especially in the current transfer market.
Speaking to TalkSport, the England assistant coach said: "I have to admit I thought the Danny Welbeck sale was a strange one.
"I can't work it out. Obviously I'm working with him last week and I'm thinking £16 million? There are right-backs and left-backs galore bought for £14 million, £15 million, £16 million.
"I'm thinking how have they got him for £16 million? I can't work it out. It has helped out a competitor - someone probably vying for those third and fourth places. I am struggling to understand the logic behind the deal in two or three ways."
Danny Welbeck scored twice for England against Switzerland and is set to be handed the central role he has been craving at Arsenal.
While United assistant manager Ryan Giggs insisted that the club will still emphasise youth development, Neville is the latest critic of the Red Devils' transfer policy this season after Mike Phelan and Bryan Robson.
But the 39-year-old is excited to see the array of world class talent amassed by his former club, who have also signed Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo, Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw.
Gary Neville is excited by United's world class signings including Angel di Maria, but warns that Louis van Gaal faces a challenge to incorporate all of them into the team.
Neville said: "I do fancy them to finish in the top four - I think the signings in the last three or four days of the transfer window were like I’ve never seen before.
"It is not the way I would expect United to go about their business. I always expect it to be a lot more controlled.
"I think the fans are genuinely excited - the Falcao one just tipped them over the edge. It surprised and shocked everyone.
"As a United fan I am excited because they have signed world-class players. People jumped on the bandwagon last year and said they wouldn't attract players. That's absolutely ridiculous.
“They have overpaid. There is no doubt about that. They've had to but what they have proven is that people will still go there. Now Louis Van Gaal has to mould them into the team. It won't be easy."
Sources: TalkSport, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian
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