Berba: United Don good but time for more
DIMITAR Berbatov has praised United for signing Donny van de Beek, but says the club must now push on with even more players in the summer transfer window.
The Dutch midfielder became the club’s first summer arrival after signing a five-year contract with the option of an additional year following his £34.6m transfer from Ajax.
Van de Beek brings added strength to a midfield already packed with talent and former Reds forward Berbatov believes the focus should now be on bolstering other areas of the pitch.
“It’s getting crowded in the midfield department but that’s a good thing because competition is always healthy,” Berbatov told Stadium Astro.
“They will get the best out of each other. There is going to be Pogba, him and Bruno Fernandes - that is exciting.
“The team is getting compact in a really nice way. Maybe they will surprise us with one or two more signings.”
When pressed on which area United need to strengthen next in the summer window, Berbatov reiterated his desire to see a new centre-back added to the squad.
He continued: “I think in defence, a centre-back is something that they need to look for. If they are going to buy someone or not we are going to see, but I think that is where they need to strengthen. Everything else at the moment looks balanced.
“For me they need someone who can accommodate Harry Maguire. Harry is more of a guy for getting the ball out of the defence and giving it to the midfield, so maybe someone who is different to that but also strong.
“They need to copy the Rio [Ferdinand] and [Nemanja] Vidic partnership from the past.”
Van de Beek, meanwhile, has revealed that close friend Steven Bergwijn urged him to sign for Tottenham Hotspur instead of the Reds.
The Dutch international had been expected to join Real Madrid this summer but the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenues forced the La Liga champions out of the running.
Van de Beek’s agent also claimed there was interest from Arsenal, but fellow Dutch international Bergwijn was hoping he’d choose the other side of north London.
“Steven Bergwijn texted me to see whether I would play for Spurs,” Van de Beek said. “But I chose United.
“I felt ready for the next step. This was the time to go. That is why I was on the phone with my agent last weekend. In the end, there was an agreement.”
M.E.N. Sport understand Tottenham never had any real intentions of rivalling United for the former Ajax midfielder this summer.