Louis Saha says it is a ‘mystery’ as to why Manchester United didn’t sign Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld this summer.
The Belgian international had a much publicised £25m release clause in his contract, though Spurs received little interest in the 30-year-old during the transfer window.
Manchester United had been desperate to strengthen their defensive options this summer, signing Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and breaking the world-record for a defender for Leicester’s Harry Maguire.
Despite the big-money arrivals of the duo, the club’s former forward Saha can’t work out why United didn’t make a move for the Spurs centre-back Alderweireld.
“Why United didn’t trigger Alderweireld’s release clause is a complete mystery to me,” Saha told Bwin. “He’s been excellent for Tottenham and would have instantly strengthened United’s defence.”
Saha, who played for both United and Tottenham, says Alderweireld would have represented ‘an absolute bargain’ in the current market and would have been an ideal partner to £80m signing Maguire.
“When you look at the money United have spent on defenders this summer, they could have got themselves an absolute bargain who still has a lot of years of football to play,
“United clearly made Maguire the main target, but the pair could have been a real force together.”
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