Roy Keane: A club like Manchester United should not panic with only two hours left in the summer window

Roy Keane expressed concerns over Manchester United's reported interest in signing Lewis Hall, saying the Newcastle United star is not the “right answer” for the left-back position. In addition, reports claimed the Red Devils negotiated for a move for Rayan Ait-Nouri on deadline day. Keane said a club like Manchester United should not be left scrambling with only two hours remaining in the summer window.

“With two hours left in the transfer window, rushing into the pursuit of Rayan Ait-Nouri, is that operation a little too hasty? It does not look great, does it?” Former Manchester United and England right-back Gary Neville raised the question on the latest episode of his program.

“All summer people have been talking about left-back and centre-back positions, yet they only made a move with two hours left.”

As Neville's former teammate and captain, Keane said Manchester United's rushed attempt to sign Ait-Nouri on deadline day had the feeling of “making a desperate move without a clear plan.”

“You can see they have panicked. They are really desperate,” the legendary Manchester United captain said.

Carrick praised Manchester United for withstanding pressure and securing a convincing 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town.

“A club like Manchester United should not be in a position where they are scrambling with only two hours left in the transfer window.

That being said, there have been many strange last-minute deals in football history that produced good results, and it is not just Manchester United, but the entire industry. So I would not criticize them too harshly, but the issue is that when you reach the end of the window and are pushed into a desperate situation, mistakes can easily happen.”

Speaking about Manchester United's interest in Hall, Keane said: “I do not think Hall is the right answer. Do not get me wrong, he is not a bad player.

But I do not think his defensive ability is good enough.

It brings us back to the old question: what should be the primary standard when we select defenders today?

“Of course you want defenders to be comfortable on the ball, but the first requirement is that they know how to defend. That is the most urgent problem we need to solve right now.

Attacking players can be given freedom to play, ‘lads, with two midfielders and four attacking players, go and win the game,’ but the defense must be solid, even if that means sacrificing some ability in possession and building from the back.”