According to former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders, Manchester United have gone wrong in pursuing Alvaro Morata over Jermain Defoe. After the striker completed his move to Bournemouth from Sunderland, many took to social media to praise Bournemouth on securing such a good deal. I personally believe that Defoe returning to the south coast side is a perfect move for both parties, despite Bournemouth having a fair few strikers already in their squad. There is no doubt that Defoe is a proven goalscorer, and at the age of 34 he most certainly still has the talent that will help him thrive in front of goal next season.
However, it seems natural that in some way there must be a sly dig at Manchester United in some way shape or form. Step forward Dean Saunders, the former Liverpool star turned footballing expert. Saunders believes that United should have been in for Defoe instead of ‘gambling’ on Real Madrid man Morata.
United have been linked with a £60m move for Morata this summer, who scored 20 goals in 19 starts for his club last season, in order to replace the out of contract Zlatan Ibrahimovic. But Saunders believes that Defoe would’ve been a better player to have at United due to his Premier League experience.
“I would have taken Defoe,” Saunders told talkSPORT .
“He’s 34, scored 15 goals last season, [has a] couple of years in him. His instinct of getting to the ball first in the box is brilliant. You’re gambling, every time you sign a striker from abroad it’s a gamble. I don’t think it’s a gamble with Defoe.”
“Jermain Defoe is my favourite player. I love watching him. I like how his brain works and how he can finish, he finishes all types of chances. He doesn’t drink, he’s fit as a fiddle. He will (start) if he scores every week.”
It’s odd that United are the team who have been slated for not picking up the veteran. Having let Ibrahimovic go, it would certainly have been an underwhelming acquisition from Mourinho.
Furthermore, with Liverpool and Arsenal even more in need of a forward who can score goals, surely it would have made sense for them to target the striker?