Louis Saha names Spain star who Man Utd should have signed this summer

Louis Saha believes Manchester United missed a trick in not signing Spain star Dani Olmo this summer.

As part of a major squad shake-up, United brought in five new players during the summer transfer window with Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt and Manuel Ugarte all arriving at Old Trafford.

But just three games into the new season, Erik ten Hag’s side are reeling after back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Liverpool, having narrowly beaten Fulham on the opening day of the season.

A lack of goals in the side is already looking like a major problem with Rasmus Hojlund recovering from an injury suffered during pre-season.

While pleased with his old side’s business, Saha believes there was a missed opportunity with Olmo. The attacking midfielder, who scored three times during Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, joined Barcelona where he was formerly a youth player in a £51m deal from RB Leipzig.

The 26-year-old has already scored in each of his two appearances for the Catalan giants with Saha convinced he is a player who could have shone at Old Trafford and improved those around him.

‘Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee are good players, but none of them have ever scored more than 25 goals in one season,’ Saha told Paddy Power.

‘For goal scorers, I don’t think it comes under the same bracket but hopefully one day Rasmus can do that. 

 ‘In that area behind them, Bruno [Fernandes] is alone in that bracket where he can create many chances. That’s not normal and that’s not good enough.

‘I would’ve loved to see Dani Olmo join, before he moved Barcelona. He is already proving that he can score goals and provide assists. These are the type of players that are needed. 

 ‘We let Jadon Sancho go, he was sitting on the bench and didn’t get any chances whatsoever. The transfers have been good – particularly defensively.

‘I am very pleased with the three signings at the back. They are good signings but there is no player that is there to make the players around them play better.’