Neil Warnock says Man Utd missed £55m Konsa as Arsenal sign him

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and former Premier League manager Neil Warnock say United should have signed Ezri Konsa before his £55million move to Arsenal.

Arsenal’s successful acquisition

Konsa has enjoyed a brilliant start to his Gunners career after a big‑money transfer from Aston Villa over the summer.

The 29‑year‑old was thrust straight into Mikel Arteta’s side because William Saliba’s injury lay‑off and has helped Arsenal win eight of their first nine Premier League matches this season.

Man Utd’s season has been miserable, with their last league victory a 5‑2 win over Ipswich Town in late August.

The poor start has put United’s recruitment strategy under the microscope, especially their failure to add defensive depth in the summer window.

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Warnock pointed to Konsa’s Arsenal transfer as a deal United missed while they focused on signing midfielders.

He told, ‘They spend money on forwards, they spend money on midfield players like you’ve never seen and yet they still haven’t got a defence.’

Warnock added that Arsenal’s signing shows a top club can buy defenders, questioning why United spent £100million on a midfielder instead of a defender like Konsa.

He warned that if nothing changes United will struggle, comparing their recruitment to clubs such as Brighton and Bournemouth and saying something is wrong at Manchester United.

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand echoed the view, saying on his YouTube channel that Konsa was a top player United should have secured and that his performances have given Arteta big decisions and headaches.