Man Utd told they made exactly the same transfer mistake as Arsenal this summer

Manchester United and Arsenal were both linked with Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins this summer, but opted to sign Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres respectively instead

Manchester United have been told their decision to sign Benjamin Sesko is a “mistake” and that they should have bought Ollie Watkins instead. United have spent big on attacking reinforcements this summer, forking out almost £200million for Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha.

However, former Red Devils star Nicky Butt, who won six Premier League titles at Old Trafford, believes Watkins would have been a better option due to his experience. Watkins has spent five season in the Premier League with Aston Villa and hit double figures in all of them.

“I know Cunha has done really well over the last couple of seasons but I would really like an experienced striker,” Butt told BetMGM. “I hope I’m wrong but I really hope they aren’t making the same mistakes with Sesko as they did with Rasmus [Hojlund].

“A young player coming in with no Premier League experience, it just feels like history repeating itself. Honestly, for what it would have cost, I would have gone and brought in someone like Ollie Watkins, someone to help and pull the young strikers out of a bad patch.

“When young players are just coming into the club, when the onus is on them to score goals, if they’re having a few bad games they have to have the safety net of being pulled out of the firing line. Ollie Watkins, or someone like that, would be who I would have been looking to bring in.”

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Liverpool make Isak plan clear, Hojlund’s Man Utd decision, Eze to Arsenal deadlineREAD MORE: Arsenal legend says Premier League striker was better option than Viktor Gyokeres

Butt’s comments come after Arsenal legend Tony Adams expressed a similar sentiment, claiming the Gunners should have signed Watkins instead of Viktor Gyokeres. When asked about Gyokeres during a Q & A for Indo Sport, Adams said: “I don’t know yet.

“He’s not tried and tested. I would have liked to have seen them get Ollie Watkins to be honest with you. He’s a Gooner, he might have given us a year and we might have won the title.”

Adams also expressed concerns about Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and club captain Martin Odegaard. When asked for his thoughts on Arteta, Adams responded: “Ahhhh… [audience laughs]… What?! Was there too much of a long pause there?

“I think he’s got a really big call to make this year and, for me, he hasn’t done it and the call is to make Declan Rice captain. Declan is my kind of captain and it might free up [Martin] Odegaard up to play with a bit more freedom because he had a very average season last year.”

“But I think sometimes when you’ve got the main man and the captain of the club… Terry Venables did it, he took it off David Platt and he put me as captain and Glenn Hoddle took me out and put Alan Shearer, which was a silly decision!

“But every now and again, as a manager, you have to put someone that reflects you, reflects the football club, someone who thinks can actually take you to the next level. I think Rice is an Arsenal leader, I think he is.

“He’s good in the dressing room, around the training camp. He’s got standards, he’s got principles and I can see the man and he’s a proper player, a proper captain. I would have done it, but Arteta hasn’t done it so I’m being critical of Arteta at the moment. Big managers go, ‘Right actually, you’re my man now!'”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.