Sir Alex Ferguson’s former right-hand man questions Man United over Cole Palmer transfer

Rene Meulensteen has expressed his bewilderment at Manchester United's oversight in not signing Cole Palmer - a self-professed fan of the club.

Palmer, who developed his skills within Manchester City's youth system but had limited opportunities under Pep Guardiola, made a surprising switch to Chelsea for £42.5million in 2023. Now, the dynamic 22-year-old playmaker has become one of the Premier League's standout talents, contributing to the Blues climbing up the league table and exacerbating Guardiola's regret.

Meulensteen, who enjoyed a 12-year two-spelled tenure at Old Trafford in Sir Alex Ferguson's coaching team, criticised his old club for their hesitation, questioning why they didn't seize the opportunity to sign Palmer.

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Comparing United and neighbours City’s squads and recruitment successes with OLBG, Meulensteen stated: "It's hypothetical, but can you imagine Manchester United could grab Erling Haaland?

"He'd add 25 or 30 goals straight away. Then you look at Rodri, he'd bring so much stability to the midfield, then Phil Foden, look at how incredible he was last season.

"When it comes to missing out on players, look at Cole Palmer. Why did he end up at Chelsea when he is a Manchester United fan? Why did United not pick him up."

During the 2023 summer transfer window, United certainly weren't shy about splashing the cash, with a hefty £60m forked out for Chelsea's Mason Mount – a player who was essentially replaced by Palmer in west London. However, this investment has yet to yield significant returns.

As Meulensteen points