Manchester United fan presenter Mark Goldbridge has voiced his displeasure over the club’s handling of Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s situation. The right-back sustained an injury during a pre-season friendly against Liverpool, which could jeopardize his potential transfer to West Ham United.
West Ham, eager to sign a right-back this summer, initially aimed to bring in Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich. However, when that deal fell through, their attention shifted to Wan-Bissaka. United needed to offload the former Crystal Palace defender before securing Mazraoui, but Wan-Bissaka’s injury has complicated matters.
Goldbridge did not hold back in his criticism, labeling the club’s actions as “utter incompetence.” He questioned the decision to risk playing Wan-Bissaka in a friendly, especially when United were already trailing 3-0 to Liverpool. Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones, and Kostas Tsimikas had scored for Liverpool by the time Wan-Bissaka was injured, making it an opportune moment to substitute him. Despite having alternatives like Jack Fletcher and Hannibal Mejbri on the bench, United chose to keep Wan-Bissaka on the pitch.
Goldbridge’s frustration was evident in his post on X, formerly known as Twitter: “If [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka is injured and can’t be sold that’s just utter incompetence on behalf of everyone! Why the hell we took the risk in the first place is pure stupidity.”
Wan-Bissaka’s injury now puts his transfer to West Ham in doubt, which in turn affects United’s chances of signing Mazraoui. With Diego Dalot likely to start as right-back for the season, the potential loss of Wan-Bissaka could disrupt United’s transfer plans.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s Premier League Statistics
Appearances: 22 (=12th in the squad)
Assists: 2 (=4th in the squad)
Clearances Per Game: 2.5 (7th in the squad)
Tackles Per Game: 1.9 (=4th in the squad)
Interceptions Per Game: 1.9 (1st in the squad)
Match Rating: 6.75 (8th in the squad)
United are also close to finalizing a move for Matthijs de Ligt, with a potential £43 million deal on the horizon. However, gaps remain in the team. Tyrell Malacia’s long absence puts additional pressure on Luke Shaw, and the search for a new midfielder continues. Adrien Rabiot and Manuel Ugarte have been linked, but there is still time in the transfer window for United to make further additions.
The aim for this season is Champions League football, and United must avoid decisions that could hinder their progress. Ensuring that key players are fit and available is crucial for their ongoing rebuild under INEOS.
