One former Manchester United player made a signing suggestion to the Glazer family but the decision-makers at the club laughed at the recommendation, according to reports.
Manchester United under the Glazer family have been something of a joke at times with the American family signing off on signings and managerial decisions that have looked strange in hindsight.
The signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal on ludicrous wages, the £73 million signing of Jadon Sancho who is now back out on loan at his former club Borussia Dortmund and the near £100 million addition of Antony certainly stand out as glaring mistakes.
Another area of weakness has been the transfer that they haven’t completed and one of these failures in particular has cost the club.
Trippier suggestion
United were heavily linked with a move for Kieran Tripper back when the Englishman was at Spanish giants Atletico Madrid with a new right-back high on the agenda for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
A deal never materialised for the Englishman, however, as he joined Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United side for just £12 million in the summer of 2022.
Since that move, the former Tottenham defender has been a revelation for the Geordie side as they qualified for the Champions League last season.
According to a report from ESPN, in the summer of 2021, those at Old Trafford looked to canvass opinions from ex-players at the club and one of these former players suggested Tripper.
However, the club took a rather dim view of this suggestion, according to a former player who was spoken to for this report.
“The Trippier suggestion was rejected out of hand, basically laughed at,” the former player said. “He was only 31 and ended up at Newcastle for £12m six months later.”
Trippier could have been vital for United
The English right-back has been superb for the Geordie side since his move and the attacking qualities he offers Newcastle has been key to their recent success.
In 84 appearances for Newcastle, he has scored four goals and provided a staggering 20 assists for the Geordie side.
By contrast, Diogo Dalot, who has had a brilliant season for the Red Devils, has just eight assists in 138 appearances for United.
Vetoeing this signing seemed a mistake at the time and so it has proved.
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