Louis Saha spoke to Compare.bet following the conclusion of the 2022/23 football season. The ex-Manchester United striker gave his thoughts on the impending sale of United, talked about why United will regret not being more aggressive in trying to sign Harry Kane, why Neymar and Mbappe wouldn’t fit at United and why James Maddison should pick Newcastle instead of Spurs or Man United.
- United will regret not going for Kane
- Qatari offer ‘more exciting’ for United fans than Ratcliffe
- Neymar and Mbappe wouldn’t fit at United
- United should ‘hold their ground’ over Mount move
- Maddison should pick Newcastle over Spurs and United
- Postecoglou can have ten Hag-like impact
MB: Your old teammate Rio Ferdinand suggested yesterday that the Qatari takeover is just days away, but his competitor Jim Ratcliffe is still seemingly in the race. Who do you think United fans would want in charge of the club?
LS: You can see the differences between Sheikh Jassim and Jim Ratcliffe with what those two are offering. I think the Qatari offer seems to be more exciting, with more control and it doesn’t include the Glazers which is a big plus for the fans. It’s all about a rebuild for the Qataris – the ground, the infrastructure, the trust from the fans. There are so many elements that we are not aware of and we won’t know all the information, but for the club’s sake, this has to be done quickly. It’s taken too long and it will start to affect the team and the manager. Erik ten Hag needs to know what he can spend and who he can sign, so it needs to be completed now.
MB: If the Qatari takeover goes ahead, it would mean United are expected to have a huge transfer outlay – should they target Mbappe as a statement signing?
LS: Signing Mbappe wouldn’t just be a statement – it would be a game-changer. If the Qatari owners can get him, and he can still fit within the culture, the structure and the way ten Hag wants to play then why not? But I would say, the Qatari owners of PSG have not done things the right way and the same mistakes cannot be made at Man United. There is too much tradition and history at Man United to get things wrong. Every transfer now has to be about getting the club back to where it belongs.
MB: And what about Neymar – does he fit in that structure?
LS: Both Neymar and Mbappe have a similar profile – they are superstars that come with a lot of distractions and situations the manager has to cope with. They come with big entourages and lots of press following them and they require lots of management. This isn’t the best fit for ten Hag’s Manchester United. It’s about strong discipline, consistency and putting the team first. Neymar and Mbappe are two of the most talented players in the world, but a move to United would require them to adapt and follow the team’s rules, rather than for those superstars to impose their own style.
MB: It seems as if United have decided against going after Harry Kane and will target a different striker – will they come to regret this?
LS: Yes, and I’m not the only one who’s said that Kane would be the perfect fit. In terms of his charisma, how he leads the frontline and handles pressure, not to mention the fact that he’s a guaranteed 25 goals and 15 assists a season striker. Kane would also have great link-up play with the likes of Rashford, Sancho, Antony and Bruno Fernandes. You can just see them all jelling very quickly. Any player other than Harry Kane is going to be a gamble, and I think United will regret it if they don’t go in for Kane. Look, if you can find another Haaland — someone who can come in and score 50 goals in their first season — then go for it, but I doubt they’ll find someone like that. Kane is the only player who won’t need time to adapt and will be ready to perform and score goals immediately. He’s a hard-working player, he’s performed for any manager, in any system and under all kinds of unrealistic expectations. He has never struck me as the sort of player who asks to hold all the cards in order to perform. I think Mr. Levy is making a mistake, and he should let Harry Kane leave.
MB: Why do you think Mbappe has decided against signing a new contract with PSG?
LS: Because of the club’s profile and its Champions League expectations, PSG is a very difficult club to manage and build. PSG obviously have the finances, and they want to be respected as one of Europe’s best clubs, but they’ve been unable to achieve the same level of success as the likes of Chelsea and Man City, and this is the ownership’s failure. They purchased too many egos and have given away too many privileges to certain star players, who can complain and make demands directly to the club president, and this is not the way you run a ‘big club’. The ownership has made mistakes and have put themselves in a difficult position. These big names guarantee that you will attract a lot of fans, but there are no guarantees on the pitch.
Kylian’s performances and personality has put him at the centre of lots of drama and speculation — especially in terms of transfer links. In some cases, I would say that he’s drawn attention to himself for no reason, or for a reason that only he knows. But, Kylian is a smart guy, and he knows what he’s doing. We may not understand his motives, but what is clear is that PSG should be bigger than Kylian Mbappe — or any other player for that matter — and that’s not the case at the moment. If either he or Neymar leaves, then PSG is going to have an even bigger task in terms of being respected in Europe. It’s obvious that Mbappe is unhappy with how things have gone at PSG, and all this is indicative of the mess that PSG has become, and it’s a pity because it’s a great club.
MB: What do you make of the Rasmus Hojlund links – is he good enough to play up front or United?
LS: It would be a great addition, yes. Hojlund is very consistent, has a lot of experience for his age, is good technically and is very strong. He’s got it all. But obviously in order to go straight into that number nine position you will require someone who can hit the ground running and start performing immediately, and I’m not sure Hojlund is ready for that. So I think United would need to sign both Hojlund and someone like a Harry Kane or a Victor Osimhen. This would make Manchester United a real threat again, because on his own Hojlund isn’t going to change anything.
MB: United reportedly value Mason Mount at £40m, whereas Chelsea are holding out for £60m. What would you advise the club to do here?
LS: Mason Mount has great potential to play in a 4-3-3. He’s got the legs, as well as the creativity that United have been lacking, particularly towards the end of the season when they became very dependent on Marcus Rashford. United need more players who can score and create, and Mason Mount would be a really good fit. He would create a lot more chances for United’s strikers, and this is what you need to win trophies.
However, Mason Mount is not the only player that can do this, and it’s important that Manchester United appear strong and resolute in the transfer market, and not fall down to other clubs’ demands. Chelsea expect United to pay any amount of money for Mount — and of course, he deserves respect — but if United have, after examining his contract, valued Mount at £40 million, then I think that’s fair enough. They don’t actually have to sign Mason Mount, and they should make that clear, as I think they have. With all the respect to the players, this is how the market works and Manchester United have to be strong and hold their ground sometimes.
MB: Andre Onana proved in the Champions League final why he is so highly rated. Could you see him making a move to the Premier League, maybe to United to replace De Gea?
LS: Onana is a top goalkeeper, he’s very confident, especially with his feet and for a goalkeeper it’s important because it’s the way teams are playing these days. So definitely I think he can make the jump to the Premier League, there is no doubt about it. He’s a very talented goalkeeper. Whether he can compete with De Gea we don’t know – they are two great goalkeepers so I’m excited. I think it’s a question of whether De Gea can be conscious he has made too many mistakes last year and that’s why we’re having this discussion. He understands the nature of this business. It’s important to have competition that’s healthy and he has to understand it’s a big club and if Onana is coming, he has to prove he’s a better goalkeeper. But I do think there are a lot of goalkeepers that could do this – there are many talented goalkeepers at the moment who can play and take the role that ten Hag needs – someone who can feel confident starting from the back when they need to, make saves as that’s the main attribute that we’re looking for in a goalkeeper. I think De Gea can still improve, mentally I think is where most of his mistakes come from. His attitude in some moments, and lack of concentration. There are moments you want him to prove he’s very confident on his feet and he’s trying to do this at the wrong time and that’s where mistakes have come. So I think it’s something he could really improve and who knows in the future if another goalkeeper will take his role.
MB: James Maddison has been linked with three of your ex-clubs in Spurs, Newcastle and United – where do you think fits him best?
LS: I do think that Maddison is a terrific lad, a massive talent, and it was a pity to see Leicester go down with all those talented players. When you look at Newcastle it seems to be, for me, the perfect fit for Maddison in some ways. This club needs to get to the European standard so there will be a lot of games with pressure. Newcastle need players like him, definitely, who can be a provider, give a lot of consistency in midfield which is what they need, a lot of energy as well so yes, it’s the perfect fit there. The option of Spurs or Man United are good for Maddison but the one where he can be a star straight away in a club that’s going in the right direction is Newcastle.
MB: Jadon Sancho has been linked with Spurs – from a Spurs perspective, would you think that’s a good move for them?
LS: He’s a terrific player with a lot of talent but his head was not operating correctly and he has been overthinking – too many worries, too much doubt and you can sense that in his game and that’s a shame. This is where this type of player really benefits starting the season with the right influence and with the right manager. And I think the pre-season will be useful to surprise a lot of players and fans and media, to discover him as a new player. So I would be excited to see him at United next year. But if he goes to Spurs, they will welcome a great player that maybe will still require support from the manager and a system that works for him. I don’t think Tottenham has got that at the moment. They have a new manager and we don’t know his style – we’ve only seen him manage Celtic in a certain way which isn’t enough guarantee for a player who seems to frustrate, and who doesn’t always show his full potential, so I find that a bit strange.
MB: And from a United perspective, should they keep hold of him?
LS: I hope United keep hold of Sancho. For me he’s a talented player. He has scored goals and has assisted but imagine him playing with full confidence. We haven’t seen that from Sancho since he came to Manchester – I haven’t seen him play 10 games with this momentum where you know he’s at his best. I know he can do it, we were waiting last year – look at Marcus Rashford and that type of performance with consistency. Why can’t we see this with Sancho? I’m sure he can do the same. And he will be a scary front line if it happens. Antony has maybe less diversity in his game but has managed to play with that confidence. You can sense he knows what he’s doing and whenever people are talking, he has that. This is what we want from Sancho. If he approaches games in this way, he could be unstoppable. The guy has too much to just give up and say, oh yes, United wasn’t for me.
MB: How much of a challenge will it be for Ange Postecoglou to change Tottenham into an attacking, free-flowing side and do you think he’ll have success?
LS: I really hope Postecoglou can turn Spurs into an exciting side. That’s what he was brought in to do. I don’t think Conte and Mourinho had the wrong approach, because Tottenham still won big games, but for Tottenham it’s about consistency, the toughness, approaching the game with a champion’s mindset. In some cases you would see that, but in others, in those crucial moments, they wouldn’t show enough fight. What Conte said in that press conference, they were some very harsh words but I don’t think he was particularly wrong. It’s hard to see how a forward-thinking manager can solve those issues so for me, it’s a gamble. Tottenham have potential, but it’s frustrating to see because they struggle to realise that potential.
MB: What do you think constitutes a ‘good season’ for Postecoglou’s first year?
LS: Tottenham should be looking at Man United and what Erik ten Hag achieved in his first season. Even if the results aren’t perfect at first, you can see the foundation, the direction that they are going in. Last season with United, every game that went by you could see what the manager was implementing and you could see the structure in the team. Postecoglou needs to show that the team is growing and bring back the fear factor to playing at Tottenham. He needs to make the Tottenham stadium hard to play at again and make the fans believe in what he’s doing.
MB: Everton missed relegation by the skin of their teeth, have the ninth-biggest wage bill in the league, need to refresh the squad, and the club’s leadership looks to be in crisis. What do you think Sean Dyche will be able to achieve next season and what can Everton do to get out of this rut?
LS: For Everton, the main thing is to not to say that they missed relegation, I think they escaped, and they need to see it as something they can’t go through again. Definitely, they have to rebuild this squad because the mentality isn’t right and the wage bill is too high for results like that. Dyche fixed things defensively for Everton, and he made his players know when it’s important to defend. In attack, they couldn’t create that much so that is an issue that needs to be solved this year but Sean Dyche has done really well in the great escape from relegation, and that’s now all the work they need to do during pre-season. They have to face themselves, look in the mirror and identify what went wrong – mentally as well as technically. Those players are good: the fitness, the dedication, those guys want it for sure. They are competitors. But they have to really refine what the priorities are and from that point go through basics to basics – they will aim to be a bit more attacking but at first, they have to turn Goodison Park back into a fortress, get it back to what it used to be. It’s going to be difficult – making it a really difficult stadium to come to and get results – that wasn’t there last season so this should be at the forefront of their plans.
MB: Dele Alli is one player still on Everton’s books. His stint at Besiktas was true to his recent career, with an underwhelming showing that saw him get limited minutes. Can Sean Dyche be the man to get him to turn it around?
LS: Nobody can turn things around for Dele Alli other than him. It’s like trying to get someone to stop smoking – you can offer all the help in the world but if that person doesn’t want to do it it’s meaningless. Change has to come from Dele. It’s a crucial moment for him and he can’t blame anyone but himself now. Every single football fan wants to see Dele back to his best because he is such a good player with a unique style, but it won’t be about whether the manager can fix him or get him to turn it around, we’re at a point now where it’s only to do with whether Dele wants to turn it around for himself or not.
MB: Ruben Neves joining the Saudi League – Is this becoming a league we all need to start paying attention to?
LS: What’s going on with the Saudi League is an interesting situation. Obviously, bringing in players like Ronaldo and Benzema is an excellent strategy for getting the world to watch your league, but a player like Neves who is in his prime is different and that can give the league more longevity. It’s great for Saudi Arabia and it’s different to fight against this kind of money. We saw it with China and it didn’t work out, but with this, I think it’s going to last. It will be exciting, but I don’t think it will ever be a league on the level with the top European leagues.
MB: Will you be watching it?
LS: To be honest, I don’t think I’ll be watching the Saudi League. There’s only so much time in the week to watch football and I won’t be changing my habits yet!
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