Manchester United icon Paul Parker has sensationally claimed fans have "s**t" on a three-time player of the season as he outlined who the club must target next.
While fresh talent may be needed in several areas, former United defender Paul Parker is certain about where the club should focus its attention first.
Parker, 61, who understands what it means to be successful at Old Trafford after winning three Premier League titles and a host of domestic trophies during his five-year spell, delivered his verdict.
After a torrid first two seasons at Old Trafford, current first-choice goalkeeper Andre Onana has been linked with a move away from the club to French side Monaco, although a deal now looks unlikely and it is said the Cameroonian could be set to stay.
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|Paul Parker, who won three league titles under Sir Alex Ferguson, took no prisoners when discussing Manchester United's current squad
Parker believes the Cameroon international’s time is up at Old Trafford, with United left licking their wounds after forcing a former stalwart out of the club.
Speaking via BritishGambler.co.uk, Parker, in no uncertain terms, stated: “Top sides always have a top goalkeeper that they are assured with, and Onana is not that goalkeeper.
“I can’t see how he’s going to cover up what he did last season, and I just really don’t believe that he can. If I don’t believe as someone watching, I worry what the players in the team are thinking.
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Getty | Andre Onana has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer, but looks increasing likely to stay put“I question if he was born a goalkeeper. I think he was an outfield player that has gone in goal. He wasn’t a goalkeeper from day one. The only thing he really hasn’t done, is become a goalkeeper.
“I don’t care what he did at Ajax or Inter; he’s not good enough to play at Manchester United.”
Parker insists that United’s obsession with playing out of the back from the goalkeeper led to the departure of three-time player of the season David de Gea, and the team would have been better off with him despite his drop in form.
He continued: “United got rid of David de Gea because his feet weren’t good enough. If de Gea had been there last year, United would have, at the worst, been sat comfortably in the mid-table, the amount of saves de Gea made.
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“To be honest, they s**t on de Gea, United fans. Three player of the seasons at United, [one of the] players of the season at Fiorentina, that says everything.”
The former Fulham defender added he would be a “fool” to say an alternative to Onana wouldn’t be a “massive upgrade”, and named Aston Villa’s Emi Martinez as the heir to Onana’s crestfallen throne.
The Argentinian has been strongly linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, with United topping the list of suitors, which also includes Saudi clubs, but the club wouldn’t be able to afford a deal without shifting the Cameroonian - something that looks increasingly difficult.
While Onana has consistently disappointed at Old Trafford since his arrival, United’s attacking threat was more of a concern for the Red Devils last year.
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|David de Gea was one of the standout performers for Fiorentina this year, and won player of the season three times during his spell at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim’s side scored just 44 league goals, the second least of the non-relegated sides after Everton (42), but have made the addition of Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and also look set to complete the £70million signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.
While first-choice striker Rasmus Hojlund, who scored just four league goals last campaign, does deserve another season according to Parker, the 61-year-old insisted their priority must remain on continuing to reinforce their forward line, targeting another Villa star.
“Ollie Watkins would be a great signing,” he declared. “He’s honest, he just runs and runs and he can score any type of goal. Get back to where the club were, get people off their seats again. Causing problems, seeing opportunities being made again.”
Begrudgingly, Parker concluded on United’s pair of outcasts - Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho - and took no prisoners.
He added: “You can’t feel sorry for Rashford with the amount of money he’s earning, but he got let down by the people that were looking after the football before
“He didn’t have a good season, and for Villa, did okay. Jacob Ramey was visibly the most frustrated person at Villa, wondering why Rashford was playing in front of him, because he wasn’t good enough to play at Manchester United, and certainly wasn’t good enough to play ahead of Ramsey in that Villa team.
“Premier League teams might want the footballer, but not the person and what comes with it. He’s got a bigger entourage than most boxers.”
Parker concluded by blasting youngster Garnacho: “Sell the boy. He needs to move on, needs to understand what football is about. Not a game of golf, and you need players around you.
“He needs to look at his game and what he is rather than what he wants to be – he should want to be Garnacho, not the former United winger that plays for Portugal… and have a bit of humanity.
“I wonder what kind of player he is. Not full of tricks, not that quick. I’m trying to figure out what his game is. I really don’t know what his strengths are.”