Manchester United’s choice not to leave Serge Aurier to Tottenham Hotspur could come back to haunt them.
Serge Aurier has settled in instantly at Tottenham Hotspur and is already managing to impress.
The Ivory Coast right-back was a bargain at £23 million as Spurs snapped him up from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day.
SkySports reported that United distanced themselves from a switch, and did not follow up the reported interest with a bid.
United have a top quality right-back already in Antonio Valencia, but in a year’s time they could come to regret passing on Aurier.
Valencia will turn 33 at the start of next season, and is eight years older than Aurier.
The Ecuadorian’s goal against Everton yesterday was terrific, but Aurier is player United needed long term.
United may feel Valencia is the better option now, but failing to sign Aurier suggests they are not planning beyond the short-term, a repeated criticism of Jose Mourinho’s approach.
The Red Devils hope that Timothy Fosu-Mensah will ascend to one day replace Valencia, but Spurs have similar aspirations for their own young talent, Kyle Walker-Peters.
United have Matteo Darmian, but he also is yet to convince and has featured more at left-back than right-back over the past year.
Aurier may have been a luxury buy at present for United, but he would have developed into a necessity.
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