Peter Crouch advised the Glazers NOT to sign Jadon Sancho in 2021 - with the England international now set to leave Manchester United.
Sancho, 23, joined the Red Devils in a £73million deal in July 2021, having scored 38 goals and provided 51 assists in 104 Bundesliga games for Borussia Dortmund. Yet he's failed to replicate that form in England, with just nine Premier League goals to his name.
Sancho has also fallen out with Erik ten Hag. The United boss dropped the player in September for "his performances in training", but the row turned sour when Sancho rejected his manager's comments on social media. A January transfer is now expected.
Most United fans were excited by Sancho's arrival, but former Liverpool and Tottenham striker Crouch raised concerns. He believes several expensive signings have failed to live up to their billing at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013.
"Sancho seems to be a done deal from Borussia Dortmund for £73m, but big-money transfers won’t change United fans' perception of the Glazer family," Crouch told Paddy Power. "The owners' problems are too deep-rooted to be solved just by spending a few quid.
"They cannot buy the fans' happiness. Look, it’s a positive step and I think United fans will love Sancho, but the damage has been done over the years and looks impossible to rebuild. They’ve spent loads of money on players before, but recruitment has been poor."
United have spent a fortune to sign the likes of Antony, Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez, Raphael Varane, Donny van de Beek, Harry Maguire, Fred, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Angel Di Maria and Andre Onana during the last decade.
Yet that hasn't result in sustained success on the pitch. United haven't won the Premier League since 2013 or the Champions League since 2008. They've only won one FA Cup, two League Cups, one Europa League and two Community Shields since Ferguson's exit.
As Crouch suggested, the Glazers' running of United has made them very unpopular among fans. INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to buy a 25 per cent stake in the club, with the British billionaire aiming to make United a force in European football again.
Ten Hag is hoping to improve United's fortunes, but Sancho isn't part of his plans. The former Dortmund star will now be evaluating his options, with the likes of Tottenham and Newcastle on red alert. A move to the Saudi Pro League is also a possibility.
There's still a glimmer of hope for Sancho at Old Trafford. As reported by The Guardian, he's been urged by his United team-mates to say sorry to Ten Hag. It's thought an apology is the only way the winger's gets back into the club's first-team squad.