The Chronicle reports that Rafa Benitez has been left “seething” following the club’s inaction in the transfer market this summer.
The manager was interested in signing Stoke City’s Erik Pieters to strengthen his options at left-back, however, he hit a “brick wall” trying to sign the Dutchman.
The Stoke Sentinel believe a “cheeky” £2m offer was made by the club on deadline day, but the bid was knocked back. Fans on Twitter are extremely frustrated with how the club have handled things:
Why aren’t we just paying his valuation
— Adrian (@Adrian____29) 9 August 2018
Ah.
Add it to the list of lines we couldn’t get over.
— StripedBeats (@BeatsStriped) 9 August 2018
Why put in a stupid bid like that. Ffs you couldn’t get a decent tea lady for that these days. Stop wasting everyone’s time.
— #United with Rafa. (@NorthernSoulMod) 9 August 2018
You haven’t moved forward Mike you have taken 5 steps back. Again.
— TMW (@TilehurstsOwn) 9 August 2018
Replace Cheeky with pathetic
— Mick Parry (@MickP1964) 9 August 2018
We’ve been “cheeky” a lot in this window it seems.
— Anthony (@Anthony__N__) 9 August 2018
Sports direct United
— sturrock (@sturrock89) 9 August 2018
Some didn’t want us to sign Pieters anyway:
Thank God for that
— Daniel Black (@DanBlack869) 9 August 2018
Good, he is garbage ..
— nEwCaStLe fOr LiFe (@77_SH_ER) 9 August 2018
No no no i’d rather keep laazar
— John Ainsworth (@johnnyains) 9 August 2018
Considering the restrictions placed on Rafa when it comes to signings, it must be infuriating that even when he asks for a budget signing, the club can’t even get that one over the line.
Hopefully, between now and 5 pm, the club make a move for a left back that the manager actually wants to sign, but I am not putting my house on that.