SUMMER OF ’24: THE FIRST TRANSFER WINDOW OF THE INEOS PROJECT [PART 2]

Dan Ashworth & Omar Berrada

Welcome to part 2 of my analysis ahead of the impending summer transfer window for Manchester United. In part 1, I identified United's potential playing style under INEOS and how Erik ten Hag — or a new manager — may be able to implement it. I also identified various players the club could target for the following positions and roles: all-phase midfielder, right centre-back and right-back. As I stated at the beginning of my analysis in part 1, these positions are being analysed in reverse order of priority, starting with the least pressing positional need and moving forward towards the position that most pertinently requires reinforcements.

This part of the analysis will follow the same parameters of part 1, analysing 3 players per position and ranking them from 3rd to 1st based on (but not limited to) cost, quality, fit and flexibility. I have identified 4 additional positions that require reinforcements, bringing the total number of potential signings to 7. As stated in part 1, whilst this may appear unrealistic, an intelligent allocation of funds and sales of a number of players surplus to requirements will help in facilitating this squad overhaul. These departures will be identified towards the end of the piece and will go some way to giving The Red Devils greater flexibility in the transfer market.

CENTRE-FORWARD

With Anthony Martial's contract expiring at the end of the season, United appear set to allow the Frenchman to leave on a free transfer. He’s on excruciatingly high wages and is extremely injury prone, so it only makes sense that the club would simply allow his deal to expire. As a replacement for Martial, an experienced centre-forward would provide strong competition for Rasmus Højlund whilst also putting less mileage on his body, with the young Dane already suffering from a few niggling muscular injuries this season. Marcus Rashford can provide cover in the position, but he’s made it clear that he prefers playing off the left flank and he’s evidently far more comfortable and effective there. As such, a new centre-forward is certainly required. United could also deploy two strikers at times, particularly when the manager opts for a more attacking shape against deeper blocks or when specifically chasing a game.

Ideally, the club should target a tall, strong forward who can provide an aerial threat from crosses and act as a target for Onana to play long passes to in order to avoid the opposition press. I'll be looking at players in their late 20s/early 30s who would be happy with a rotational role in order to allow Højlund to grow as a player without an expectation to start every week in all competitions. Due to the nature of the role and playing time desired for the new centre-forward, the club shouldn’t spend too much on the position in order to retain flexibility to spend larger amounts on other positions.

3RD. CALLUM WILSON

Newcastle United's Callum Wilson

As far as experienced, Premier League-proven strikers go, Callum Wilson is as good an option as any currently available on the market. The 32-year-old is an England international and goalscorer for his nation, showing he possesses the international pedigree often sought-after by a club of Manchester United's stature. Wilson has recently been linked with a move away from Newcastle United as The Magpies attempt to stay within the boundaries of the Premier League and UEFA's financial sustainability rules. With his contract expiring in 2025, the veteran striker could be had for a considerably reasonable fee and I'm certain he'll have no shortage of suitors.

Callum Wilson is a pure no. 9. He focuses on occupying the opposition centre-backs and playing off the shoulder of the last defender. Injury struggles have gradually depleted his once devastating pace, but he still has a quick first step to get ahead of his marker and find space to run into. Ranking in the 1st percentile for passes attempted and completed per 90, as well as for progressive passes and passes into the final third per 90 amongst forwards in Europe’s big 5 leagues and elite European competitions, he isn’t a forward who can be expected to drop deep to link play and create for teammates. He’s the antithesis of a Harry Kane in terms of playstyle, which may be favourable for some managers who prefer that their strikers are positionally disciplined in occupying the opposition centre-backs.

Whilst his value isn't found in creating for others, when Wilson does receive the ball in advanced areas, he’s very secure in his ball control and navigation of tight spaces.

Callum Wilson's touches + dribbling — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

Wilson is a fantastic box presence, always looking for spaces, even in the tightest corridors. He has great control in these tight spaces, as exemplified by his take-on data, often using his quick feet and technical security to be an efficient dribbler when required. Ranking in the 97th percentile for goal-creating actions per 90 from take-ons amongst qualifying forwards, he uses his quality ball control efficiently and effectively to create good opportunities, often out of seemingly nothing.

Digging into the numbers that matter most, Wilson is a prolific striker. Before moving to Tyneside, he had scored 41 goals in 126 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, although his first two seasons were severely injury-riddled. Since joining Newcastle United however, he's upped the ante, scoring 45 goals in just 91 appearances — a fantastic return that becomes even more impressive when one considers that he was often substituted on or taken off in many of those games. In those 91 appearances, he amassed approximately 69 (nice) total 90s played, which means he's essentially scored 0.65 goals per game for Newcastle United in the Premier League — a remarkable return in Europe’s top league.

Wilson is the epitome of a fox-in-the-box and he's a reliable converter of chances, as shown by many of the goals he's scored.

Callum Wilson goals — source: Premier League

The Coventry-born marksman is evidently a calm and assured finisher. He's capable of rather difficult finishes when required and does so reliably. He’s actually over-performed his expected goals (xG) in the Premier League by nearly 2 goals since joining Newcastle United, suggesting that he isn't simply putting away easy opportunities.

Wilson isn’t a towering centre-forward, standing at 1.80m tall. He's not a short player per se, but he's certainly not a target man off his height alone, although he does possess a rather wide, muscular build. Due to his height, he’s only won 33% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season; not ideal for a centre-forward. However, despite these shortcomings — no pun intended — 8 of his 45 Premier League goals for Newcastle United have been scored with his head. This is a rather healthy return and an indictment of his intelligent off-ball movement and determination as a goalscorer.

Wilson's injury record may be a concern when contemplating a deal, but the backup centre-forward role would put less wear-and-tear on his body and hopefully prolong his effectiveness at the highest level. Whilst an experienced centre-forward is desired, a 32-year-old may be seen as slightly too old in this respect. Additionally, tensions certainly still exist between Manchester United and Newcastle United due to the Dan Ashworth fiasco which may impact potential negotiations. However, if Callum Wilson demands Old Trafford as his next destination, it would be difficult to stand in his way, especially with just a single year left on his deal and Newcastle United needing to generate funds from sales.

Maximum fee: €25 million

2ND. SIMON BANZA

S.C. Braga's Simon Banza

Over the past three seasons, Simon Banza has emerged as one of the most prolific forwards in Liga Portugal, but his journey up to this point has been far from easy. Born in France, but representing the Democratic Republic of Congo, he started his career with Lens where he struggled to fully make his mark with the club. He would subsequently be sent on a number of loans, including a successful spell with Union Titus Pétange in Luxembourg. This would lead to a loan move to Famalicão in Liga Portugal, which would ultimately kickstart his career. After scoring 14 league goals for Famalicão, he would secure a permanent move to S.C. Braga where he has continued to be a consistent goalscorer. Banza is currently battling Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres and Arouca’s Rafa Mújica for the top goalscorer award in Portugal's top flight and, at 27 years old, he's entering the prime of his career and certainly attracting interest from clubs throughout Europe.

Since joining Braga in the summer of 2022, Banza has scored an impressive 30 goals and tacked on an additional 6 assists in 49 Liga Portugal appearances and just 31 starts. This season specifically, he’s been a house on fire. The Congo international has scored 19 goals and provided 4 assists in just 20 appearances whilst over-performing his xG by over 5 goals. Some may suggest that this is unsustainable, but I believe it’s a reflection of his immaculate finishing ability.

Simon Banza goals — source: Sport TV

Banza's intelligent off-ball movement, particularly at the back post, makes

him especially difficult to track. He’s able to unleash a variety of finishes and is exceptional in the air. Listed at 1.89m tall, he uses his height effectively as a goalscoring tool with 9 of his 19 Liga Portugal goals this season being scored with his head. His aerial prowess is a key aspect of his goalscoring proficiency, which he combines with his superb, reliable finishing. This season, he’s scored at a rate of 1.13 goals per 90 — an immaculate return by any measure, and he’s done so whilst also being a good facilitator for his teammates.

It's important to note that pure goals and assists are not the only aspect of Banza's game as a centre-forward. He’s a talented dribbler with fantastic control in tight spaces when surrounded by defenders.

Simon Banza dribbles — sources: Liga Portugal; Movistar; TNT Sports

His quick feet and smooth movements allow him to circumvent pressure with relative ease. He’s also incredibly agile, especially for a player of his height, often using that size to his advantage in a way that's generally associated with footballers who enjoy a low centre-of-gravity. He isn’t necessarily a deep-lying forward, but he's capable of dropping into the spaces behind the opposition midfield and drifting into wide areas to use his dribbling abilities to cause numerous problems for the defence.

Simon Banza's touches + dribbling — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

Banza is comfortable drifting to both flanks and uses step-overs and body feints effectively in order to beat his defenders. He also possesses impressive speed and, whilst not reliant on it, he can use it to beat defenders, particularly over longer distances. These traits and abilities would also make him an effective strike partner alongside Rasmus Højlund at times for specific situations.

Banza is a well-rounded forward who can attack his opponents in a number of ways. The Congolese striker is always threatening, with and without the ball. His talents suggest that he may not be satisfied with a backup role, but he would certainly receive plenty of opportunities at United considering Højlund’s age and the niggling injuries he's injured, as well as the potential for the duo to play together. He reportedly has a €30 million release clause, although some sources suggest it’s up to €40 million. If the clause is €40 million, it will likely be seen as excessive to United's recruitment department for an older, rotational striker considering the club's other positional needs, but €30 million would be a good deal for such a talented centre-forward.

Maximum fee: €30 million (release clause?)

1ST. SERHOU GUIRASSY

VfB Stuttgart's Serhou Guirassy

Serhou Guirassy has emerged seemingly out of nowhere to become one of the most dangerous forwards in Europe. He’s scored 22 goals in just 20 Bundesliga appearances and trails only Harry Kane in the race for the league’s golden boot. At 28 years old, this is the first season of his career with over 20 league goals and he’s done so with time to spare in the season. Before this season, his best goalscoring campaign was last season which saw him score just 11 league goals for Stuttgart. In fact, before the 2020/21 season, he had never scored double-digit league goals in his career. Much like Jamie Vardy, he appears to be a late bloomer.

In this impressive Stuttgart side under Sebastian Hoeneß, Guirassy has finally come into his own as a goalscorer. The Guinean striker has experienced somewhat of a journeyman career up to this point, playing for 7 different clubs throughout his career. His international career has experienced similar volatility, originally playing for France at youth international level, before ultimately choosing to represent the Guinean senior national team, which is the birth nation of his parents. He’s spent his club career bouncing between French and German clubs, but it is Stuttgart with whom he’s finally found a home and has been able to fulfil much of the early promise he showed in his younger years.

Naturally, Guirassy’s finishing is his most impactful attribute. He’s composed in front of goal and is capable of a variety of finishes, largely with his stronger right foot, but he’s also proficient with his left foot and his head, largely thanks to his strength and height as he stands at 1.87m tall. He's brave when attacking crosses and his off-ball movement grants him additional space for his accurate heading.

Serhou Guirassy goals — source: Bundesliga

The Guinea international is an excellent finisher with a pure shooting technique and reliable ball-striking from all distances. He can place his finishes with precision or unleash powerful strikes to beat goalkeepers, keeping him unpredictable for opposition shot-stoppers. He’s also evidently a big fan of lobbing the goalkeeper, which is a great sign of a striker with complete confidence in his own abilities. His vast array of finishes make him a particularly versatile goalscorer. He's confident with first-time finishes, but in the event that a such a finish isn’t possible, his superb ball control and unshakable composure allow him to still take his chances. His clean and reliable first touch often puts him in advantageous positions to take high quality shots. There's a prevailing fear that his goalscoring rate is unsustainable as he’s over-performing his xG by over 7 goals, but he’s so consistent in his quality of ball-striking and has so many finishes in his locker, I see no reason why he can’t continue to score a multitude of goals based on his current quality of finishes.

A single Bundesliga assist this season may lead some to believe he’s purely a poacher; however, the advanced data tells an entirely different story. The Arles-born forward ranks in the 92nd percentile for passes completed per 90 amongst forwards in Europe’s big 5 leagues and elite European competitions, as well as ranking in the 90th percentile for live-ball passes, 89th percentile for touches and 98th percentile for touches in the middle third per 90. He’s also made the 3rd most touches in the middle third of all Bundesliga forwards this season, 70 more than Harry Kane who is notorious for dropping deep into midfield and getting involved in build-up play. This is indicative of a player who involves himself in his team’s overall play and his advanced passing metrics indicate that he’s more creative than his pure assist numbers might suggest.

Serhou Guirassy's advanced passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

As seen by the advanced metrics, his expected assists (xA) per 90 suggest that he should have far more assists than he currently does. The Stuttgart star also scores highly in other creative passing metrics, showing his overall creativity as a centre-forward. He's adept at creating these chances via his hold-up and link-up play. His strength and aerial prowess also allow him to operate as a target man at times, ranking in the 83rd percentile for aerial win percentage amongst qualifying forwards. He’s then able to turn and make runs in behind the defence or arrive late in the box — both strong traits of his that result in numerous goals.

At 28 years old, Guirassy has the experience desired for this role to provide support and competition for Rasmus Højlund. He’s also proven that he can overcome adversity as he’s bounced from club-to-club and emerged as a top striker in his late 20s. Perhaps most attractive of all is his release clause, which is reportedly set at just €17.5 million. Acquiring his services for this fee would allow Manchester United to continue to strengthen in other positions. For all of the reasons provided in this analysis, Serhou Guirassy should be United's no. 1 target for the centre-forward position this summer.

Maximum fee: €17.5 million (release clause)

RIGHT WINGER

When Manchester United decided to splash €100 million to sign Antony from Ajax, it was certainly a questionable deal at the time. Nearly two years later, it's no longer a questionable deal — it's downright baffling and represents an egregious misallocation of funds. The Brazilian winger has expressed his desire to stay at Old Trafford and fight for his place, making a sale unlikely, but he certainly shouldn’t be a regular starter next season.

Amad Diallo is impressive, but he’s yet to really be given an opportunity in top flight football, so throwing him into the deep end as United's first choice right winger would be overwhelming to his development. He also isn’t a winger who likes to hug the touchline, instead preferring to play in the half-space and connecting with teammates. Garnacho has flourished on the right wing since his move to the position; however, the Argentinian prefers to play off the left flank and that is likely where his long term future lies. Regardless, his positional change has helped to improve his decision-making and the game looks far simpler for him. That said, United should still be in the market for a more natural right winger and, by all accounts, it’s a position in which the club would like to strengthen this

summer.

The priority is someone who can operate primarily as a touchline winger, but can

also comfortably drift into the right half-space and impact the game from there. A better, more reliable playmaker than Antony is vital as the Brazil international's playmaking has been underwhelming since his move to United. With Rashford and Garnacho operating as more direct, goal-oriented inverted wingers/inside forwards on the left, a right winger who is more pass-oriented would provide more balance. That said, the ability to score goals is still important and not to be overlooked or ignored. Reliable decision-making is also crucial as that appears to be Antony’s weakest trait and has played a large role in his struggles at United, particularly this season. 1v1 dribbling ability is also a requirement as it allows for dynamism on both flanks, especially against low blocks. With these parameters, a few players truly stand out as options for the right wing position.

3RD. NICO WILLIAMS

Athletic Club's Nico Williams

Over the past two seasons, Nico Williams has exploded onto the scene, which is fitting for his explosive style of play. The electric Spanish winger has been attracting interest from clubs throughout Europe, and this season has seen him take a leap forward and solidify himself as a top player. He's arguably been the standout player for Athletic Club during their magical run in the Copa del Rey this season — particularly during their memorable 4-2 victory over Barcelona — as well as in their quest for Champions League football. At just 21 years old, he presents the opportunity for one lucky club to secure a star winger for the next decade. With clubs such as Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea reportedly interested in signing Williams, how exactly would the exciting Spaniard potentially fit in at Manchester United?

Perhaps the standout attribute of Nico Williams’ game is his incredible dribbling

ability. He’s a high volume dribbler and always looks for opportunities to run at defenders at speed. He complements his elite dribbling with aggressive ball-carrying, allowing Athletic Club to progress the ball quickly in transition.

Nico Williams' dribbling + ball-carrying — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

A major part of what makes Williams so difficult to defend is his unpredictability with the ball. He’s equally comfortable running down the byline as he is cutting inside from either flank; this is in part due to his tremendous speed. The Spain international is lightning quick and can comfortably beat his defender on the outside with his blistering pace. He’s also remarkably agile, capable of changing direction with ease, allowing him to shift his dribbling angles on a sixpence.

It will come as no surprise that Nico Williams is a nightmare to deal with in transition, where he can use his quick feet to complete take-ons against retreating and unbalanced defenders. Only Girona’s Sávio has completed more take-ons than Williams in LaLiga this season, and Sávio has done so in ~7 more 90s played than the young Spaniard.

Body orientation is also key when completing and defending take-ons, therefore Williams often puts himself in the best position to win these duels.

Nico Williams dribbles — sources: DAZN; Gol Play; LaLiga; Vivo Sports

Another impressive aspect of the youngster's dribbling is that he’s not reliant on hugging the touchline to be an effective. In fact, especially when he plays on the right, he enjoys drifting into the half-space and using his close control to become a threat closer to goal and generating central combinations with his teammates.

Another reason why Williams is so difficult to defend is his two-footedness. Whilst primarily right-footed, he can pass, shoot and, crucially, dribble with his left foot and therefore can’t be forced onto an uncomfortable side. This is a skill also possessed by Ousmane Dembélé and it’s partially why the Frenchman is such a prolific and unguardable dribbler. Similarly, Williams’ ability to use both feet makes him a particularly tricky customer for defenders.

On top of his exhilarating dribbling, the Pamplona-born winger also uses his two-footedness to great effect as a playmaker and goalscorer. Williams has scored 6 goals and provided 12 assists in just 25 starts in all competitions this season — a highly impressive return. His creativity as a two-way winger has made him a lethal offensive threat.

Nico Williams goals + assists — sources: La Liga; RFEF

Being ambipedal is perhaps the main reason why Williams is so comfortable on both flanks. His creativity is also bolstered by his strong set-piece taking as the 21-year-old possesses a vicious cross in his arsenal. This is a skill often lost amongst modern wide players, but Williams uses it as an important part of his game.

Nico Williams' pass types — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

This high quality crossing ability enables him to comfortably operate as a touchline winger, which allows for more tactical flexibility for a manager or a separate role under a new manager.

Last season, Williams operated most often as a right winger, but this season he’s largely been deployed off the left flank.

Nico Williams 2022/23 heatmap — source: Sofascore

Nico Williams 2023/24 heatmap — source: Sofascore

There is an argument to be had that Nico Williams is better off the left flank as opposed to the right. Evidently, Athletic Club believe he's of greater use to the team as a left winger at the moment and that may pose some difficult questions for Manchester United's scouts. His versatility can certainly make him even more valuable for United, however, the club will want to make sure they secure a genuine right winger as they must avoid another Jadon Sancho situation where the player is capable of playing on the right wing, but prefers to operate on the left side. That said, this is far less of a worry in the case of Nico Williams. He’s a hard worker and a far more explosive player than Sancho, which ultimately doesn’t limit him when he plays as a right winger. In modern football, wingers generally prefer to operate as inverted wingers due to the ability to cut inside onto their stronger foot, but Williams is more of a facilitator than a goalscorer and, as such, this isn’t as crucial to his game as it might be for others. And, of course, being ambipedal plays a significant role in his comfort on both wings and his ability to maintain his dynamism and unpredictability as both a left and right winger.

The Athletic Club star reportedly has a €50 million release clause, which happens to be the same fee as in his old contract that he recently renewed with Los Leones. There are a few conflicting reports regarding what his new release clause might be, but most sources suggest the figure hasn’t changed. For a player of his quality, this is certainly a reasonable fee and, without the release clause, it's likely that Athletic Club could have received a much larger fee for their wonderkid.

As a primarily right-footed right winger, Williams also gives United a different dynamic off the right flank compared to existing options such as Amad Diallo and Antony. He could also provide competition for both Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho for the left wing spot, which isn't to be undervalued. If the Spanish youngster is prepared to leave his home nation and embark on a journey to the Premier League, he’ll have no shortage of suitors this summer, whilst his skillset doubtless screams "Manchester United!"

Maximum fee: €50 million (release clause)

2ND. JOHAN BAKAYOKO

PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko

There may be some trepidation amongst various supporters to go shopping in the Eredivisie again following Antony’s struggles to adapt to the quality of the Premier League football, as well as the struggles experienced by Cody Gakpo at Liverpool — two players who lit the Eredivisie ablaze during their time in the league. Johan Bakayoko has enjoyed similar personal success in the Eredivisie, but both his film and data show a player who is very different from both Antony and Gakpo stylistically. The Belgian youngster is skillful and explosive in a way that very few wingers are in football today. As such, he’s being heavily scouted by top clubs throughout Europe and it’s easy to see why.

As is the case with most modern wingers, Bakayoko plays on the wing opposite to his stronger foot; in this case, he’s a left-footed right winger and he's very much a specialist in this position. Firstly, and most prominently, Bakayoko is an unbelievable dribbler. He’s undoubtably one of the very best dribblers in Europe, combining his high volume dribbling with reliable security.

Johan Bakayoko's dribbling — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

The Belgium international's quick feet and unpredictable moves leave most defenders perplexed. He puts a lot of effort into being a two-way winger, capable of cutting inside onto his stronger foot or taking the ball down the line and driving it across the box with his weaker foot, all whilst still retaining the option to quickly turn back onto his left foot. It computes that the Overijse-born wonderkid has completed the 2nd most take-ons in the Eredivisie this season. All things considered, he is still notably left-footed — not to the extent of Antony, but it’s clear that he generally wants to come back onto his stronger foot. It may actually be more of an issue of confidence in his weak foot, as he’s shown the ability to use his right foot competently on a number of occasions. Regardless, his willingness to take his defender on the outside means that threat must be respected.

Whilst holding the width near the touchline is his preferred move, Bakayoko is also adept at moving into the right half-space and using his close control to navigate tight spaces. However, he usually only does this when completely necessary, instead preferring the space and take-on opportunities that come with holding the width and subsequently driving inside from these positions.

Johan Bakayoko 2023/24 heatmap — source: Sofascore

His heatmap shows that the young Belgian dominates the right flank, including in the half-space. As I alluded to, his half-space involvement most commonly comes in the form of the winger driving inside from wide areas and threatening the opposing defence with his dribbling, passing and shooting. His deep bag of moves serve to make him a virtually unstoppable dribbler.

Johan Bakayoko dribbles — sources: BT Sport; Eredivisie; TNT Sports

A particularly helpful tool with regards to his dribbling is his extraordinary speed. He possesses an unbelievable burst of pace in the first few yards and combines this with devastating speed over longer distances. This makes him a strong ball-carrier as he can cover significant ground in moments in mere moments.

Johan Bakayoko's ball-carrying — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

The PSV starlet has made the most progressive carries of all Eredivisie players this season. His dribbling and carrying style and tendencies are rather similar to those of fellow Belgian winger Jeremy Doku; however, Bakayoko appears to possess greater ball security and is more dangerous in his decisive actions, such as passing and shooting. That said, considering the league he's playing in, opposition quality must be accounted for too.

Bakayoko complements his aggressive dribbling and carrying with quality ball-striking. When cutting inside from the right flank, he favours curved long distance efforts towards the far post, akin to Arjen Robben. However, he’s also also capable of reversing the ball into the near post, similar to Kylian Mbappé’s signature near post finish. His ability to finish with both power and precision is a key trait of his that he can use from distance and for close range finishes.

Johan Bakayoko goals — sources: CBS Sports; ESPN; PSV

He isn’t only an on-ball threat, but also using his intelligent off-ball movement to trouble defences, often making late runs from the back post before finishing with aplomb. This has led to the mercurial Belgian scoring 15 goals for PSV since the beginning of last season; a stunning feat for such a young player. He has slightly over-performed his xG, which isn't surprising considering his volume and accuracy when it comes to long distance efforts, whilst immaculate his technique suggests that he can perform this consistently and reliably.

Crucially, Bakayoko is also an impressive playmaker. Considering the zones he often occupies, he’s a rather high volume crosser, ranking in the 80th percentile for crosses amongst qualifying attacking midfielders and wingers with nearly 5 crosses per 90. Whilst this is the main source of his playmaking, he is creative in other ways and from different areas, especially when he enters the half-space and creates advantageous angles for diagonal balls or reverse passes. He’s a nightmare to defend when he has the space to drive the ball forward towards defenders as he’s so unpredictable in his actions, resulting in high creative numbers.

Johan Bakayoko's advanced passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

Bakayoko has recorded 18 assists for PSV since the beginning of last season, indicative of a player who is a dual threat as both a provider and goalscorer. His progressive passes and passes into the final third metrics are low, largely due to how often he receives the ball in the final third, as well as the fact that, when he does have deep possession, he usually opts to carry into the final third, ranking in the 98th percentile for carries into the final third per 90 amongst qualifying attacking midfielders and wingers.

PSV are a possession-based side and enjoy plenty of the ball, especially in opposition territory, which is helpful for this analysis and gauging how Bakayoko might fit in at Old Trafford. Considering the youngster is so vital to everything PSV do with the ball, his touch volume is large, ranking in the 99th percentile for touches in the attacking third and 97th percentile for touches in the penalty area per 90. He also ranks in the 99th percentile for progressive passes received per 90, exemplifying his commitment to remaining high and wide and receiving the ball in positive positions as opposed to dropping deep and bringing the ball forward himself. He's subsequently an enormous threat in both settled possession and transition due to his diverse skillset.

Bakayoko will only be 21 years old in April, so he presumably still has plenty of room to grow and improve as a player. Manchester United’s scouts and hierarchy may be somewhat worried by recent Eredivisie attackers struggling in the Premier League, but that shouldn’t be much of a defining factor when dealing with different players with different skillsets. In many ways, Bakayoko is a classic United winger — fast, direct, unpredictable and still very young. The rumoured asking prices aren’t beyond the realm of possibility for the club and he’s a player who must absolutely be considered to bolster the right wing options.

Maximum fee: €45 million

1ST. MICHAEL OLISE

Crystal Palace's Michael Olise

In 2022, as the reported asking price for Antony continued to rise, I actually suggested that Manchester United pursue Michael Olise as a cheaper alternative who had already shown the ability to handle top level English football and thrive during his first season with Crystal Palace. United would end up heavily overpaying for Antony and now, nearly two years later, that decision appears even more misguided than it did at the time. Fortunately for United however, Olise has yet to leave Crystal Palace despite significant interest from Chelsea last summer and, at 22 years old, he may feel this is the ideal time to make his big move. A number of sources have reported that Manchester United are very interested in the France youth international, and they may not get another chance to acquire the player beyond this summer.

Olise is what I like to call an outside-in winger. He usually begins by holding the width on the right and stretching the opposition horizontally as is made evident by his heatmaps for both last season and this season.

Michael Olise 2022/23 heatmap — source: Sofascore

Michael Olise 2023/24 heatmap — source: Sofascore

From wider zones, as a left-footed right winger, he can combine with underlapping full-backs and midfielders or he can use such runs as decoys to allow him to cut inside into space. When he cuts inside, Olise is a triple threat, highly adept at passing (including crosses), dribbling and shooting. I’ll begin with his passing, as this is arguably his greatest strength.

The Crystal Palace star is an incredibly inventive passer, always looking at how he can put his teammates in advantageous positions.

Michael Olise's advanced passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

As is expected, Olise creates many high quality chances and, subsequently, provides a large number of assists. His ability to cross the ball is essential to his diverse passing arsenal. He's an excellent crosser, both from live and dead-ball situations.

Michael Olise's pass types — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

Olise's set-piece proficiency would be indispensable to United, especially as it gives them different delivery angles with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount as right-footed set-piece takers and Luke Shaw and Michael Olise as left-footed set-piece takers. This could play a major role in remedying United’s offensive set-piece deficiencies. Ranking in the 99th percentile for crosses with over 9 crosses per 90, he’s legitimately one of the best crossers of the ball in Europe, an opinion that is supported by the eye-test.

Michael Olise crosses — sources: Optus Sport; Premier League; TNT Sports

The whip the young Frenchman generates on his crosses are a striker’s dream and he’s able to do so with the utmost precision. It's easy to imagine Rasmus Højlund and Marcus Rashford on the end of his venomous deliveries, as well as late runners from midfield such as Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount. Olise has provided 19 assists in 51 starts for a very defensive Crystal Palace side in the Premier League; an impressive return considering the circumstances. One can only imagine a significant uptick in those statistics for a more dominant side, with his abilities as a creator making him a particularly valuable asset when facing low blocks.

Whilst the eye test may not immediately show Olise to be a bonafide 1v1 specialist, he’s still an excellent dribbler and ball-carrier. Particularly this season, he’s really come into his own as a dribbler compared to last season, albeit in limited game-time.

Michael Olise dribbling radars — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

Whilst he doesn’t have the pure speed that some wide men enjoy, he still possesses good burst and a quick first step to get away from defenders. This is complemented by his great change of pace as he shifts through the gears with ease. He almost looks nonchalant in how easily he can change his movement speed, which likely contributes to the opinion that he isn't a particularly explosive winger.

Where Michael Olise really stands out as a dribbler is in how secure his ball control is. He has an incredible first touch which allows him to reliably keep the ball close, even under immense pressure. This also enables him to play in the half-space as he’s confident receiving the ball on the half-turn with both feet. This flexibility allows the Hammersmith-born winger to be used in different tactical setups, both under Erik ten Hag and in the event of a managerial change. Unlike most left-footed players, he's secure and accurate with his right foot, not only in ball deliveries, but also in receptions.

Due to not being a conventionally lightning-quick winger, Olise's ability to dribble at speed allows him to keep possession whilst remaining threatening to opposition defenders.

Michael Olise dribbles — sources: Amazon Prime Video; Peacock; SuperSport

This season alone, he ranks 4th for successful take-ons per 90 amongst qualifying Premier League players. This is indicative of a willing and able dribbler, as well as a player determined to continue improving and evolving in order to reach the highest level.

This season, Olise has progressively become a greater goal threat as he’s matured as an overall footballer. He had shown signs of becoming a significant goal threat in the past, specifically during his final season with Reading where he scored 7 goals in the Championship. His sublime technique and clean ball-striking allow him to unleash a variety of finishes from all distances. As a left-footed right winger, he's able to open up his body and bend the ball into the far corner, which is certainly his favourite finish.

Michael Olise goals — source: Premier League

Eberechi Eze described the third goal best, saying “Michael is peak”, stunned by the fact that he "wrapped [the shot] in the air" and concluding by describing the goal as "Messi-esque". Eze himself is a magnificent technician, capable of conjuring up remarkable acts of skill, so producing that reaction from the England international speaks volume of the quality of Olise's goal.

Much like Johan Bakayoko, Olise appears to have the Arjen Robben gene whereby he can place finishes accurately into the corners or he can opt for power when necessary. Last season, the French youngster only managed 2 goals in 31 starts, whereas this season he’s already up to 6 goals in just 8 starts. Had it not been for the recurring hamstring injury from which he’s been suffering, Olise almost certainly would’ve enjoyed the most statistically productive season of his young career thus far. He's shown the potential to become a consistent goalscorer, scoring 7 goals for Reading during his final season in the Championship. This season, he was well on pace to improve upon that record. The Frenchman is evidently becoming more confident and assured in his finishing which will certainly aid him going forward as he attempts to continue adding goals to his game.

There’s a prevailing theory amongst many Manchester United fans that Michael Olise is lazy defensively, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. His defensive style doesn’t visually look very aggressive and he may back out of duels on occasion, but he does work very hard on the defensive end. Statistically, he’s an active and committed defender.

Michael Olise's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in the Premier League

**statistics calculated during 2022/23 season

This is a look at his full season data from the 2022/23 campaign, which gives us a more reliable and long-term view of his defensive contributions. Naturally, his defensive volume is likely to be high playing for Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace, but the data still shows his willingness to contribute to the team's defensive effort. Last season, he ranked 5th amongst all Premier League players for passes blocked — a massively impressive feat by any measure. Based on his reliable work rate, I have no doubt that he would adapt well to a high-pressing system and put in a similar shift defensively.

Now, I must address the elephant in the room: Olise's persistent hamstring issues. Hamstring injuries are notoriously difficult to recover from as they’re prone to recurrence, as has been the case for the Crystal Palace star this season. As a player required to make a number of high intensity, explosive sprints every game, this will certainly be a concern. That said, there is a strong argument that Olise's recurring hamstring injury has been the result of Crystal Palace mismanaging his rehab, rushing him back and overplaying him, which certainly has merit. Before this season, he had never been an injury prone player and, as such, fingers must be pointed at The Eagles and the various people who allowed Olise to play as many consecutive minutes as he had with his particular injury risk. Manchester United's recruitment team and medical department will no doubt do their due diligence on the player’s hamstring stability whilst also being aware of how it can impact his long-term explosiveness as a dynamic winger. Fortunately, United have a number of players who can play in the right wing position which should ensure that Olise isn’t overplayed next season.

A deal for Michael Olise would not be cheap due to his reported £60 million (€70 million) release clause. United may be able to include Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a potential deal in order to bring price down. Crystal Palace have long maintained an interest in bringing their former player back to Selhurst Park — adding the right-back to the offer could drive Olise's asking price down by perhaps £10-20 million.

Aside from the obvious footballing reasons to sign a player of Michael Olise's quality, his acquisition would also help the club fulfil its homegrown quota as the player grew up in various English academies, as well as appearing for Reading's first team at a young age despite representing France at international level. It's worth noting that he's also reportedly a big Manchester United fan, making personal terms much easier to agree to. There are factors to consider such as the Premier League/UEFA's financial sustainability rules and United’s need to reinforce other positions, but, if financially feasible, it could prove to be a bargain in the long term for the talented 22-year-old.

Maximum fee: €70 million (release clause)

LEFT CENTRE-BACK

Currently, Lisandro Martínez is the only conventional left-footed centre-back in the Manchester United first team, albeit Luke Shaw can also play in the position. Nonetheless, United desperately need another option in this position. Part of this need is due to the Argentine's availability (or lack thereof) as he's missed significant game-time during his stint in Manchester over the past two seasons. Fortunately, these have largely been impact injuries, which are less likely to be persistent. However, as we've seen with a foot injury Martínez first suffered last season, these injuries can be unpredictable and subsequently reoccur, particularly if a player is rushed back too soon.

Another reason for United's need for reinforcements in this position is due to Lisandro Martínez' weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Whilst extremely tenacious, aggressive and one of the most technically secure centre-backs in the world, the World Cup winner is also very small for a centre-back. Standing at just 1.75m tall, he's essentially a non-factor against tall, strong centre-forwards who can exploit his lack of size. Martínez is also fairly weak when defending in the channels, often requiring Ten Hag to use him as a central centre-back in possession or a libero that moves forward into midfield and forms a double pivot. With all of these factors in mind, it becomes easier to identify potential targets for the left centre-back possession.

A prerequisite of any player for this position is that they are left-footed due to the advantageous passing angles this creates. Having established that, United should pursue a tall centre-back with the quickness and mobility required to defend the channels and deal with transitions through the centre, depending on the player's positioning. The increased size will also allow for greater box defending — perhaps the weakest part of Martínez’ game.

As has been established, in Erik ten Hag's ideal shape, the left centre-back is often used as a central centre-back in possession and, as such, a player who can operate mostly as a central centre-back in possession is the priority, although the ability to play as a conventional centre back or wide centre-back is important too, as the Dutch manager may occasionally opt for a 2-3-5 shape in possession and, perhaps more pertinently, a potential new manager may use his centre-backs differently. The versatility to also fill in at left-back would be a welcome bonus, but this is not a priority considering Diogo Dalot can comfortably play as a left-back and I’ve analysed other right-backs who can also play in the position. That said, having a left-footed player who can naturally step into the left-back position and play as a left centre-back in possession would be a valuable addition. This player must be of starting quality and preferably entering — or already in — his prime in order to provide genuine competition for Lisandro Martínez and not simply act as his backup.

3RD. DÁVID HANCKO

Feyenoord's Dávid Hancko

Dávid Hancko joined Feyenoord in 2022 and immediately fit into Arne Slot's system, ultimately playing a crucial in Feyenoord's Eredivisie-winning side last season. He's proven himself to be a technically secure and progressive ball-playing defender and will doubtless attract offers throughout the continent this summer, with Manchester United potentially being one of the interested clubs. At 26 years old, the Slovakian centre-back is in his prime years and could therefore come in and contribute immediately. His acquisition would represent more of a win-now move for the club, but, with his skillset, I could envision him remaining effective and valuable for a long time.

It’s immediately evident that much of Hancko’s value is largely derived from his on-ball quality. He most commonly operates as a wide centre-back in possession in Arne Slot’s system and this gives him a role similar to a wide centre-back in a traditional three-at-the-back system as it allows him to venture forward and use his abilities on the ball in advanced areas. Especially when one considers Feyenoord’s usual territorial dominance, the Prievidza-born defender has plenty of freedom to impact the game offensively.

Firstly, Hancko is an absolutely elite passer of the ball, both in his security and progression.

Dávid Hancko's passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

He’s most comfortable stepping into the half-space and making defence splitting passes from these zones. He can do so from both deep and advanced areas with the latter being a rather common occurrence due to Feyenoord's dominance. His ball-striking is remarkable, as he can fire off a whole range of passes to his teammates.

Dávid Hancko passes — sources: ESPN; Feyenoord; TNT Sports

The film displays Hancko's beautiful diagonal passing. He uses very little back-lift to generate power and distance on his passes. Despite his technique being virtually flawless, he is occasionally prone to poor decision-making on his long passes, resulting in incompletions. This is a major reason for his fairly poor long pass completion percentage. His appearances at left-back also play a role in this as he has more crossing opportunities from this position and, consequently, more difficult long passes to attempt. He perhaps too often attempts the killer pass to unlock a defence as opposed to circulating possession and finding openings through the team's collective play.

That said, Hancko's adventurous passing does often lead to good situations for Feyenoord, as represented by his key passes and expected assists. Last season, he made 4 assists in all competitions for Feyenoord, whilst this season, he’s made 2 assists so far. These are impressive returns for a defender, but his expected assists suggest that he should have recorded an even greater number of assists, indicating bad finishing by teammates. Hancko's accurate, penetrative passes help to take advantage of Feyenoord’s expansive shape, stretching the opposition and creating spaces closer to goal.

The Slovakia international also stands out as a dribbler and ball-carrier. He’s extremely press-resistant and possesses unshakable composure against opposition pressure. He ranks in the 92nd percentile for successful take-ons per 90 amongst centre-backs in tier 2 league and continental competitions and completes his take-ons at a stunning success rate of 80%. This makes him very difficult to press in his own territory in addition to being an unpredictable offensive threat in advanced areas.

Hancko combines his assured dribbling with world class ball-carrying. He uses his pronounced athleticism to glide with the ball and evade opponents.

Dávid Hancko's ball-carrying — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

His ball control, even when pressured aggressively, is impressive. This is another reason why the wide centre-back role is perfect for the Slovak, as it grants him greater freedom to progress with the ball in this manner. He's simply an exceptional offensive player across the board.

Dávid Hancko radar — source: Cannon Stats

Hancko can create opportunities in a number of ways, ranking in the 99th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90, including a 99th percentile score for shot-creating actions per 90 from live-ball passes. This sort of singular offensive machine belongs in a dominant, possession-based system that can make best use of his abilities.

The former Sparta Prague star is extremely comfortable as a left-back too. He’s an excellent defender in wide areas, with the physical tools to allow him to thrive in these zones.

Dávid Hancko tackles — sources: ESPN; Movistar; TNT Sports

Being very quick with a strong frame, he can combat big, powerful centre-forwards as well as smaller, quicker wingers. There are many parallels between his game and that of Joško Gvardiol. This isn’t to say he’s quite the same quality of player as the Croatia international, but he is stylistically very similar. This is an indication of how to best use Hancko's strengths, ensuring his best traits are maximised and his weaknesses are largely hidden.

Due to Feyenoord’s possessional and territorial dominance, Hancko's defensive numbers don’t jump off the page, but he’s a strong and reliable tackler. He likes to step forward in front of the defence and proactively makes challenges, both in a settled block and against transitions. He’s especially aggressive when closing down dribblers, ranking in the 82nd percentile for percentage of dribblers tackled amongst qualifying centre-backs. This shows that, despite lower volume statistics, he's a capable defender when called upon.

The Feyenoord star is also good in the air and can subsequently hold his own in aerial duels. Standing at 1.88m tall with a strong frame, he possesses a good physique for aerial duels in both attacking and defensive situations. With a 59% aerial win percentage, he's a clear upgrade on Lisandro Martínez in this respect. Whilst not elite in the air, he is still very good and would doubtless be an upgrade on that particular part of the World Cup-winner's game.

In 2023, Hancko signed a contract extension with Feyenoord until 2028. There is no indication that this deal has a release clause, so negotiating a fee would be difficult as the reigning Eredivisie champions do not need to sell. However, considering he’s 26 years old and Feyenoord could earn a significant profit on him as they signed him for a reported fee of just €6 million, they may look to cash in now if a significant offer is made. He operates best when given the freedom to be a progressive and expansive passer and carrier, so the central centre-back role in possession may limit him in that respect, but this when the consideration of a new manager comes into play. Regardless, Hancko presents a fairly affordable option that can immediately improve the first team and provide an option at both left centre-back and left-back.

Maximum fee: €35 million

2ND. GONÇALO INÁCIO

Sporting CP's Gonçalo Inácio

Ousmane Diomande isn't the only Sporting CP defender who make sense as a target for Manchester United this summer. Gonçalo Inácio has established himself as one of the best ball-playing defenders in both Portugal and all of Europe. For both club and country, he’s thrived in the left centre-back role in a back-three, but has also played as a left centre-back in a back-four at times for Portugal. At just 22 years old, he’s only scratching the surface of his potential and, with talented left-footed centre-backs coming at a premium these days, he’ll certainly be attracting plenty of interest this summer.

Although primarily a left centre-back, Inácio can also slot in at right centre-back, which he did plenty of last season.

Gonçalo Inácio 2022/23 heatmap — source: Sofascore

This versatility would be appreciated by United's recruitment team, particularly due to the fitness issues faced by the squad over the course of this season. Inácio has also shown the ability to play as a central centre-back, particularly one who steps forward into midfield due to his ability to receive with his back to goal, similarly to Diomande. However, the wide centre-back roles make best use of his strengths in and out of possession. One of the major factors in his ability to play across the back-three is his composure in virtually all situations. He’s rarely rushed or flustered in possession, regardless of the pressure he’s under. He’s a true ball-playing defender and has responsibilities in possession that represent this, stemming from his confidence in his abilities with the ball.

First and foremost, the Portuguese star is an elite passer of the ball. He’s persistent in his desire to be a progressive passer and allow his team to progress through the phases.

Gonçalo Inácio's passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

He clearly manages to be relentlessly progressive whilst maintaining security in his passing. As is the case with his teammate, Ousmane Diomande, Inácio’s role in Amorim’s system allows him to often play in advanced areas and use his abilities in possession in dangerous attacking areas for his team. This is exemplified by his passes into the final third, passes into the penalty area and expected assists per 90, all of which he scores exceptionally well in. He also ranks in the 99th percentile for through balls per 90 amongst qualifying centre-backs, further showing his commitment to playing accurate passes over the opposition's defensive line and into space for his forwards to attack. The film shows his passing quality to be extremely high.

Gonçalo Inácio passes — source: Sport TV

Inácio's passing prowess would allow him to play as left-back who slots into the left centre-back role in possession. This also applies to his abilities as a dribbler and a ball-carrier.

The Portugal international is excellent in both his dribbling and ball-carrying, with his abilities being unaffected by whether he operates as a left or right-sided centre-back. He ranks in the 92nd and 90th percentiles for take-ons attempted and completed per 90 amongst qualifying centre-backs. This, in part, represents his press-resistance as he uses his body orientation and composure to evade opposition pressure and ease away from challenges. This would translate well to a central centre-back role or a libero role that sees the defender step forward into midfield. His quick feet also allow him to maintain control of the ball even when faced with aggressive pressure, another feature of his game that would translate well to the libero role.

Inácio's ball-carrying is equally impressive. He’s a strong ball-carrier and uses his strength and overall athleticism to glide with the ball into advanced positions, particularly in the half-spaces.

Gonçalo Inácio's ball-carrying — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

This athleticism is also key to his defensive proficiency. He’s a powerful runner with a sturdy frame, allowing him to get the best of seemingly quicker forwards, as well as stronger ones. These athletic traits aid in his excellent channel defending, as well as his comfort in a high line and against target men.

Gonçalo Inácio tackles — source: Sport TV

Inácio's timing and reading of the game also enable him to stick with tricky forwards, especially in transition. He has the agility to swivel his hips to cut off turns and recover from body feints. Despite the fact that Sporting usually have much of the ball and enjoy territorial dominance, his tackle volume is still fairly high.

Gonçalo Inácio's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

The data also displays the 22-year-old's proficiency when challenging dribblers, further emphasising his strength in wide defending; another attribute that would enable him to comfortably slot in at left-back. However, he is occasionally prone to entering duels without the requisite levels of aggression, resulting in lost duels that he would otherwise be expected to win. Increased aggression would not only aid in his defence, but also in his aerial duel success rate.

As an aerial defender, Inácio has room to improve. He ranks in only the 12th percentile for aerial win percentage amongst qualifying centre-backs, winning just 50% of his aerial duels. Listed at 1.86m tall (1.88m by some sources), he’s far from a small defender and we've acknowledged his strength when carrying and shielding opponents. He simply needs to become more aggressive in his defensive aerial duels and make better use of his physical traits. He's shown good determination and aggression in offensive aerial duels which make him a real set-piece threat, therefore he simply needs to translate that to his defensive duels. However, he is just 22 years old, so it's part of his game he can still improve upon.

Inácio reportedly has a €60 million release clause, which I’d argue is worth it for a player of his quality. His aerial duel weakness may be a concern considering the club already employ Lisandro Martínez, but, as mentioned prior, it's a part of his game in which he can still improve. He's young enough that he almost certainly hasn’t reached his prime yet, especially considering centre-backs usually peak closer to their late 20s — another attractive aspect of potentially securing his signature. However, as is the case with Dávid Hancko, Inácio will have no shortage of suitors as left-footed centre-backs are a prized commodity, but a deal could certainly be done.

Maximum fee: €60 million (release clause)

1ST. JARRAD BRANTHWAITE

Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite

Everton have unearthed a new defensive gem and he's quickly attracting interest from both the Premier League and abroad. Jarrad Branthwaite has been one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League this season and will likely be the subject of multiple bids this summer. He enjoyed a successful loan spell with PSV last season and has been thriving at the heart of Sean Dyche’s strong Everton defence this season. Still just 21 years old, he's shown great maturity and leadership qualities for a player his age and these qualities appear to be growing every week; he plays well beyond his years in that regard. Branthwaite never fears big games against the league's best forwards and that sense of responsibility is exemplified by his defensive style and his ability to raise the level of his defensive partners. In some ways, he possesses the “aura” that we see with the likes of William Saliba and Virgil van Dijk — an intangible quality that is sorely missing in Manchester United's defence.

Branthwaite is a true no-nonsense defender. He's a bit of a throwback in that respect, prioritising his defensive responsibilities and getting rid of the ball before undertaking any ball-playing responsibilities. The young Englishman rarely comes up short in a duel, sporting the best duel success rate of any U23 defender in Europe’s big 5 leagues. He’s a proficient tackler, as shown by his tackling statistics in the Premier League this season.

Jarrad Branthwaite's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in the Premier League

**statistics calculated during 2023/24 season

He’s proactive in his defending style, always committing to challenges and showing a keen understanding of the game. Naturally, his volume stats are inflated by Everton's defensive style of football. but his percentages show that, even with this high volume, he's extremely reliable in duels. He ranks 2nd amongst all Premier League players for percentage of dribblers tackled — remarkable for a 21-year-old.

Branthwaite's loan spell with PSV as well as various situations with Everton have shown his comfort in a high defensive block. He's a terrific at athlete who is capable of covering vast areas of the pitch very quickly, using his length to cover ground with ease. His interceptions also display his ability to read the game and not solely rely upon his admittedly elite tackling abilities. This versatile defensive style is important at the highest level of football and allows the England youth international to undertake different roles and responsibilities in the defensive line.

Jarrad Branthwaite defence — sources: ESPN; Fubo Sports; Sky Sports; TNT Sports

He ranks 7th amongst all Premier League defenders for tackles and interceptions this season and 2nd amongst U23 defenders, trailing only Tottenham Hotspur's Destiny Udogie. The only defenders with better statistics in these respects are fullbacks, unlike Jarrad Branthwaite.

Listed at 1.95m tall, the Everton wonderkid is a towering presence at the back, combining this height with a strong, sturdy frame. Unsurprisingly, he's very strong in the air. He’s won 65% of his aerial duels amongst centre-backs in Europe’s big 5 leagues and elite European competitions, ranking him in the 74th percentile. These numbers have fluctuated a bit recently, as is expected of a 21-year-old, but he has all the tools required to consistently be a 70%+ aerial duel winner. This aerial dominance is a big reason why Branthwaite is such an excellent box defender.

Jarrad Branthwaite box defending — sources: Eredivisie, ESPN, Premier Sports; Sky Sport

He has complete command of his penalty area, making the jobs of his fellow defenders and goalkeeper significantly easier. This is in complete contrast to Lisandro Martínez whose height effectively makes him a non-factor as a box defender, requiring him to be paired with an expert box defender like Harry Maguire or Raphaël Varane. Branthwaite would give United a left centre-back to complement whoever they choose to field at right centre-back.

Branthwaite also possesses outstanding strength and this plays a part in his ability to win duels higher up the pitch. He combines this strength with impressive speed and agility, particularly for a player his size, making him an excellent, mobile channel defender. When isolated in wide areas against quicker forwards, he can hold his own rather comfortably and nullify any transition opportunities for the opposition. His incredible body control and innate sense of timing should both continue to improve as he grows older. His athleticism allows him to keep up with the pace of the league’s top wingers whilst overpowering them when entering 50/50 duels. This has led to Sean Dyche experimenting with the English youngster at left-back on occasion this season. That positional versatility is one of the traits I outlined as being valuable to Manchester United, particularly in terms of left-back options.

Whilst primarily a left centre-back, Branthwaite has shown the ability to play on both sides. His two-footedness allows him to comfortably slot in at right centre-back and his being ambipedal is valuable when evading pressure and passing out of these situations. During his loan spell with PSV, he was occasionally deployed as a right centre-back and performed that role extremely well. When playing in this position, he would often operate as a central centre-back in possession. This made great use of his abilities as he’s not the most progressive passer, but he's secure when asked to be and covers large spaces well in transition. He’s far from being weak passer, but he certainly isn’t considered an elite ball-playing defender.

Jarrad Branthwaite's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in the Eredivisie

**statistics calculated during 2022/23 season

Branthwaite's passing statistics with PSV are a more useful indicator of how he’d perform at a club like Manchester United as it’s a closer style of play to what United are aiming for. Much of Carlisle-born defender's passing value comes from his ability to retain possession and allow the team to progress in a more controlled manner through the phases. He is capable of a penetrative pass as he ranked in the 64th and 75th percentiles for passes into the final third and penalty area per 90 respectively amongst Eredivisie centre-backs last season, showing his ability to be effective in a possession-based system. However, when compared with the likes of Hancko and Inácio, the England youth international is a far more conservative passer. He certainly has good passing mechanics, he simply needs to become more confident in his abilities.

Branthwaite has the potential to become an excellent ball-carrier too, although he has yet to show it, likely due to a combination of tactical instructions and personal reluctance. That said, his physical and technical tools lend themselves to strong ball-carrying. He's too strong and well-balanced to be pushed off the ball and can comfortably dribble with both feet. One can imagine the Everton starlet barreling forward with the ball like a more graceful Harry Maguire. Fortunately, the central centre-back role in possession doesn't require Branthwaite to carry regularly, instead focusing on being positionally disciplined and allowing his teammates to take on progressive responsibilities. His more cautious approach makes him a good fit for the position; however, he still has the potential to become a world class wide centre-back if he can become more progressive in possession.

There are evidently numerous pros that come with signing Jarrad Branthwaite, both logistically and in terms of pure football. He's a homegrown player and will only be 22 years old by the start of next season. Despite his age, he’s already a fantastic leader and can take charge of his back-line confidently and competently. He was also recently called up to the England senior national team, although Gareth Southgate did not feel the defender warranted any minutes, so he's yet to earn his first senior cap. Nonetheless, there's a clear understanding of the player's ability and potential, and he will doubtless have numerous opportunities to represent his nation in the future.

Branthwaite signed a new contract in October last year until 2027, which would usually be a massive barrier in negotiating a move, but considering Everton’s well-documented financial problems and the threat of relegation, they may have to sell players of his calibre to adhere to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules. In some ways, Branthwaite feels destined to play for Manchester United and lead the new INEOS project on the pitch. The Englishman has a bright future ahead of him and he has the character and ability to be a key player for Manchester United immediately.

Maximum fee: €75 million

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER

If one issue has been made abundantly clear at Manchester United this season, it's the club's lack of reliability in midfield, particularly in the defensive midfield position. Christian Eriksen is still useful for his on-ball qualities, but he’s essentially a hologram on the defensive end at this stage of his career. He’s also publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with his playing time this season, so a summer transfer is likely. Mason Mount is fantastic technically and has a terrific engine and work rate, but he also has a fairly slight frame and isn’t physically imposing. More importantly however, he simply isn’t a holding midfielder, which is what is required here. Kobbie Mainoo has been a revelation for United and can play as both a no. 6 and no. 8, but the no. 8 role maximises his offensive gifts. He’s a rare, elite all-phase midfielder and forcing him into the holding midfield role severely limits those transcendent qualities. This ultimately means the club must prioritise a more dedicated holding midfielder with the positional discipline and temperament for the position.

Ultimately, a player is needed who can immediately replace Casemiro in Manchester United's strongest XI. The Brazil international enjoyed an incredible first season in Manchester, but he’s lost much of his athleticism and his deficiencies in possession persist, such as his lack of press resistance and poor pass competition percentage for the holding midfield role. He's also 32 years old and has accumulated plenty of mileage in his legs from Real Madrid’s multiple deep Champions League runs. United need to upgrade on the aging Brazilian and replace him with a player who can be a vital cog in the build-up, but also get forward and create a numerical superiority in advanced positions against low blocks.

Aerial prowess is an important trait in this position due to the team's aerial weakness in midfield and from set-pieces, as well as the role a defensive midfielder plays when defending long balls against target men. Obviously, such a player needs to have ball-winning qualities too, an area in which some of the world's best defensive midfielders thrive e.g. Declan Rice, Aurélien Tchouaméni. The defence simply needs to be screened better and United must become more reliable when defending transitions. Whilst this issue is partially systemic of Ten Hag's faltering tactics this season, it's also indicative of the lack of physicality and athleticism in Manchester United's midfield. The tactics must be improved, as must the personnel.

3RD. LUCAS GOURNA-DOUATH

Red Bull Salzburg's Lucas Gourna-Douath

Lucas Gourna-Douath has emerged as one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe today. He's still just 20 years old, but has a number of senior club appearances under his belt, including 11 Champions League appearances. Having made his debut for Saint-Étienne at just 17 years old, he went on to make 61 appearances in Ligue 1 for the club before eventually joining Red Bull Salzburg in 2022. Salzburg are known as one of the best clubs in Europe for player development and they evidently put a lot of faith in the French youngster, shelling out €15 million for his services, a record transfer fee for an Austrian club. Unsurprisingly, his performances have attracted interest from a host of clubs and their respective scouts, but his next career move will be a particularly important one. With the right development, he has the potential to become one of the best holding midfielders in Europe.

As a 20-year-old, Gourna-Douath is a physical outlier. Listed at 1.85m, he’s fairly tall and combines this with a strong, muscular frame. Clear parallels can be drawn between himself and fellow Frenchman Aurélien Tchouaméni as the duo share many physical and technical traits, although the Real Madrid star is obviously far more refined. Despite his young age, Gourna-Douath uses his body well to fend off opponents and dominate 50/50 duels. Whilst acknowledging that he is yet to fully develop physically, he has the potential to have a truly frightening physical profile once he completes his maturation. With his immovable strength comes a tireless engine and the willingness to run endlessly. He also possesses incredible speed over long distances, essentially giving him the complete physical package. He covers significant ground with regularity, as shown by his defensive action chart.

Lucas Gourna-Douath defensive actions — source: Opta

Gourna-Douath is a genuine all-action defensive midfielder and that level of ball-winning should never be neglected. Although it’s a small sample size, his ball-winning in the Champions League this season has been highly impressive.

Lucas Gourna-Douath's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in the UEFA Champions League

**statistics calculated during 2023/24 season

His percentage of dribblers tackled may appear concerning, but Champions League players are of the absolute highest quality, especially in a group consisting of Inter Milan, Benfica and Real Sociedad. He’s a high volume challenger, which will impact his success rate when playing in the wide expanse of the midfield. Regardless, as he matures as a footballer, these numbers should improve and he should become a more reliable ball-winner. His interceptions and blocks are also strong indicators of his reading of the game defensively and his IQ in understanding where to be at the right time. Out of all players with at least four 90s played in the Champions League this season, he’s made the second most interceptions per 90 — a fantastic return and reflective of a well-rounded ball-winner.

Gourna-Douath is more than just a destroyer however. In possession, he often acts as the main conduit in build-up for his side and always positions himself to receive directly from the defence and progress from deep. Ranking in the 95th and 96th percentiles for touches in the defensive penalty area and defensive third per 90 respectively amongst Champions League midfielders this season, the Salzburg starlet is a prototypical modern day holding midfielder. He could still work on his positional discipline in possession as he occasionally has the impulse to use his physical tools to roam from his position and assume some box-to-box responsibilities, but those tendencies can be ironed out with experience. Unless specifically instructed to do so, he’ll need to become a more disciplined pivot player, particularly when operating as a single pivot.

When receiving the ball from his defence, the France youth international shows the requisite press-resistance to be an effective no. 6 for a possession-based side. Naturally, he uses his strength and balance effectively to shield off pressing opponents and the ease with which he can overpower opponents almost looks effortless at times. However, it’s not only his physical gifts that allow him to resist pressure — he also possesses wonderful footwork. He's shown impressive ball control and is adept at using body feints and “dropping the shoulder” to deceive his markers. He ranks in the 76th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 amongst midfielders in the Champions League this season, which goes some way in reflecting his aforementioned press-resistance. His physical tools also lends themselves to strong ball-carrying, although he doesn’t carry forwards as often as perhaps he’s capable of due to his role as a holding midfielder, but the potential to unlock this particular trait is certainly there.

As a passer, the youngster is fairly secure, but tends to look for more incisive passes. Ranking in the 50th percentile for pass completion percentage at 84%, this essentially suggests he’s average in his ball retention, but one must account for the level of opposition he's played against, the quality of his teammates and the tactical instructions he's been given. This is also made evident by his 18th percentile ranking for short pass attempts per 90; conversely he ranks in the 84th percentile for long pass attempts per 90.

Lucas Gourna-Douath passes — source: BT Sport

With an impressive passing range and solid mechanics, he can be a versatile distributor and ball progressor from deep. Gourna-Douath also enjoys occasionally dropping into the defensive line and spraying passes from a situational centre-back position. This allows him to face the game as opposed to always receiving with his back to goal and it's from these positions that he can play diagonal passes to both flanks, although he does favour passes towards the left wing. Ranking in the 75th percentile for progressive passes per 90 and 85th percentile for long passes completed per 90 in the Champions League this season, his passing range is vast, even at the highest level.

As this analysis has proven, Gourna-Douath is a well-rounded midfielder and this is supported by how he compares with the average midfielder in Europe during the 2022/23 season.

Lucas Gourna-Douath vs. midfielders in Europe — source: DataMB

The 20-year-old has incredible potential, but he’s already a very good footballer at the moment. That said, he's still very young and could use more developmental years before he joins a club of Manchester United’s stature. United need an immediate starter to join the club and it may be too early for Gourna-Douath to do so, but he certainly presents an interesting option for the future and could be a player United look to sign and keep as squad depth whilst giving the prodigious Frenchman the opportunity to earn his place in the starting XI.

Maximum fee: €35 million + add-ons

2ND. DANIEL BOLOCA

U.S. Sassuolo Calcio's Daniel Boloca

Some of you may be asking, "Who?"

A fair question, but one absolutely worth learning the answer to.

Daniel Boloca is a Romanian midfielder who has enjoyed a breakout season in Serie A this season. Following an outstanding campaign for Frosinone in Serie B last season, Boloca attracted interest from a number of Serie A clubs in the summer, before ultimately joining Sassuolo for a fee in the region of €10 million. He’s built on those performances since his move and doesn’t look out of place against the stronger opposition of the Italian first tier.

Born in Italy, Boloca would make his debut for the Romanian national team in 2022 due to his eligibility via his family heritage. However, as his appearances for Romania have only come in friendlies, Boloca has expressed an interest in still playing for the Italian national team should the opportunity present itself. At club level, unsurprisingly, scouts throughout Europe have begun to take notice as they look for talented holding midfielders at reasonable prices. Manchester United would be smart to keep an eye on Boloca with the intention of potentially making a bid for his services in the summer.

Boloca’s journey to top level football has been a particularly difficult one, full of twists and turns. He spent 8 years in Juventus’ academy, but failed to break into the first team and was subsequently released. He would then join Tatran Prešov, Slovakia’s oldest football club, but this would only be a short stint. Following his time in Slovakia, the Chieri-born midfielder would bounce around the lower levels of Italian football before Frosinone would eventually take a chance on him. He would join the Serie B club during the 2022-23 season and play a key role in their title-winning campaign and subsequent promotion to Serie A. Boloca knew he’d be guaranteed Serie A football regardless of whether or not he left Frosinone, but he would choose to join Sassuolo, where he has continued to impress.

Boloca's entire game is built for a holding midfielder in a possession-based system. He follows the Sergio Busquets archetype for a tall, lanky, but technically gifted defensive midfielder. Stylistically, what immediately stands out is how secure a passer he is.

Daniel Boloca's passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

His high completion percentages from all distances really stand out, particularly for a player heavily relied upon in build-up. He’s not the most progressive passer, but his role simply doesn’t ask that of him. He’s expected to be more of a metronome in midfield, recycling possession and helping to establish control in the middle of the park. With that context, the Romania international ranks in the 54th and 57th percentiles for progressive passes and passes into the final third per 90 amongst qualifying midfielders in Europe — once again, numbers that would be expected to improve in a system that sees his team enjoy more possession.

Boloca's passing technique is near-flawless, as he often puts perfect weight on his passes.

Daniel Boloca passes — sources: Serie A; SuperSport

He's equally comfortable floating passes in the air or driving them across the ground. This is essential to tempo-controlling and playing over or through opposition blocks. Whilst he is primarily retention-based, the Sassuolo midfielder has shown the ability to make penetrative passes when presented with the opportunity. His pass volume would only increase in a side that dominates possession more consistently. He ranks in the 59th and 52nd percentiles for touches in the defensive third and middle third per 90 amongst qualifying midfielders, which is more a result of circumstance as opposed to his willingness to show for the ball. Sassuolo only rank 15th in Serie A this season for average possession, subsequently limiting Boloca's opportunities to get involved in possession.

Aesthetically, there is a lot of Frenkie de Jong in the Romanian-Italian's game. He isn’t as adventurous in his ball-carrying as the Barcelona star due to his responsibilities as a holding midfielder, but when he does carry, he looks silky smooth as he glides away from defenders. Much like Frenkie de Jong, his press-resistance is immaculate. He’s totally composed under pressure and uses his quick feet to find gaps in the opposition press.

Daniel Boloca press-resistance — sources: SuperSport; TNT Sports

In an era where so many teams utilise an aggressive man-to-man press, Boloca is a press destroyer as he turns away from pressure with ease and forces the opposition into rotation. This then gives him the space to progress play by finding teammates via his accurate passing. Consequently, his take-on statistics make for largely expected reading.

Daniel Boloca's dribbling — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

Whilst his take-on success volume is still notable, what truly stands out is his successful take-on percentage, indicating how much he values ball security, particularly when considering his role in possession. He’s rarely dispossessed in a dribble attempt due to his immensely high technical security and he subsequently ranks in the 94th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 from take-ons amongst qualifying midfielders, which is especially impressive for a holding midfielder. As mentioned prior, he’s certainly a capable ball-carrier, but his role doesn’t require him to do so often. Ultimately, perhaps more importantly than anything else, he’s an intelligent player with a high footballing IQ.

Defensively, Boloca is no slouch; quite the contrary actually, he's a willing tackler and active shot blocker. He's often shown a willingness to put his body in harm’s way when necessary for the team.

Daniel Boloca's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in Europe's big 5 leagues, UCL + UEL per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

As is to be expected, most of his tackles are made in the middle third, his primary zones of operation. Also worth noting is that, when he makes a tackle, he makes a point of winning back possession for his team as opposed to purely removing it from the opposing player in possession. Against dribblers, he can use his long legs and excellent reading of the game and, as such, he’s rarely beaten by dribblers, as made evident by his percentage of dribblers tackled. This is important in stopping central penetration by on-ball runners, but he's also effective when dragged out into wide areas and having to defend outside his comfort zone.

All things considered, Boloca could still improve in his aerial duels, ranking in only the 53rd percentile in aerial duel win percentage, which can certainly be boosted considering he’s listed at 1.88m tall by most sources. His slight frame may hinder his aerial success, so adding more muscle should be a priority going forward without sacrificing too much of his agility and ease of movement that make him so effective in possession.

Daniel Boloca has all of the tools to become an elite holding midfielder at the highest level. A move to a club as big as Manchester United may be seen as too soon for some considering this is his first season of top flight football. However, he’s shown the ability and maturity required to handle a big 5 league and, at 25 years old, he should only just about be entering his prime, especially as holding midfielders of his ilk generally age well. Boloca only joined Sassuolo last summer, so he wouldn’t come cheap if they’re willing to sell at all and I've seen no indication of a release clause in his current contract. However, a deal should be possible considering the profit Sassuolo stands to make from a sale and, if the player desires a move to one of the biggest clubs in the world, it would be difficult to stand in his way.

Maximum fee: €35 million

1ST. MATS WIEFFER

Feyenoord's Mats Wieffer

Since joining Feyenoord at the beginning of last season, Mats Wieffer’s performances have attracted interest throughout Europe. He was a key player in Feyenoord’s Eredivisie-winning campaign last season, and those performances have continued into the current season. Unsurprisingly, he made his full international debut for the Netherlands in March last year and has been regularly called-up to the squad since, often forming a fascinating partnership with Frenkie de Jong. With the likes of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Atlético de Madrid all reportedly interested in the Dutchman, the race for his signature won’t be easy and his performances make it abundantly clear why.

I’ll begin by analysing Wieffer’s defensive strengths as they can occasionally be overlooked due to his value on the ball. the Netherlands international is a big body in midfield, listed in the region of 1.90m tall. He’s expectedly dominant in aerial duels, ranking in the 88th percentile for aerial duel win percentage amongst midfielders in tier 2 league and continental competitions. He also ranks in the 98th percentile for overall aerial duels won per 90, showing that he's a high volume challenger on top of being a consistent duel winner. Whilst not particularly muscular, he isn’t excessively lanky either; instead he has a well-toned frame which assists in his balance and subsequent aerial prowess.

Despite playing in Feyenoord’s dominant, possession-based system, Wieffer is still a high volume ball-winner.

Mats Wieffer's defence — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

He often avoids going to ground in his challenges, instead preferring to stay on his feet and keep himself in play in the event that his initial challenge is unsuccessful. That said, he is willing to go to ground if needed to prevent opposition progress and his length allows for effective slide tackles. One of the most notable datapoints is Wieffer’s proficiency at making tackles in the middle third. As a deeper midfielder, these are often high action zones for him, both in a settled mid-block and when facing transitions. He combines this with tackles in the attacking third that are valuable in aggressive counter-pressing situations. These traits go some way to showing how useful he is in a possession-based system. He’s also excellent when tackling dribblers, once again using his length to great effect in order to make challenges that may be out of reach to other players. This combination of length, bravery and timing make him a daunting obstacle to traverse.

Wieffer's reading of the game is also evident in his high volume of blocks and interceptions.

Mats Wieffer's blocks + interceptions — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

He has a high football IQ and excellent defensive instincts, meaning his fantastic defence stems from far more than simply his physical traits.

In possession, the Netherlands international is an all-action midfielder. Under Arne Slot, he has largely operated as the right-sided centre-midfielder in a double pivot, but has also shown the ability to operate on the left side and as a single pivot. Combine this with his ability to play as more of a box-to-box midfielder in a midfield trio and you have an incredibly flexible, versatile midfielder.

Mats Wieffer 2023/24 heatmap — source: Sofascore

Whilst he does most of his work as a right-sided centre-midfielder, his heatmap shows his propensity for popping up in a variety of positions and affecting the game from different areas. This is also due to the oft-changing nature of his role in Arne Slot's system. His heavy involvement higher up the pitch is also symptomatic of how dominant Feyenoord’s system is and he certainly appears most comfortable in such a system. This brings us back to Wieffer being an all-action midfielder, as made evident by his touch data.

Mats Wieffer's touches — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

He often receives the ball directly from the defence in the first phase whilst also advancing forward and become a second-phase circulator and final third creator. Naturally, most of his touches come in the middle third, but he makes his presence felt in all areas. Some may argue that he belongs more in the all-phase midfielder category that I analysed, but as that position deals more with rotational options, Wieffer is a better fit here for this particular analysis as he would theoretically join the club and serve as an immediate starter.

It is worth mentioning that Feyenoord’s dominance plays a significant role in Wieffer’s license to impact the game in advanced areas; nonetheless, his contributions are unique and impressive. This versatility allows him to play numerous roles in various games depending on game-state and opposition quality and/or shape.

As a passer, Wieffer is strong in both his retention and progression. This is both a cause and effect of his all-phase capabilities.

Mats Wieffer's passing — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

The data shows that Wieffer is a high volume passer, but still possesses good accuracy. Some may argue that his pass completion percentage is fairly low for a deep-lying midfielder in a possession-based system, but this data is also skewed by his shifting roles and responsibilities, as made evident by his advanced passing metrics such as passes into the penalty area and assists. A more consistently reserved role would almost certainly see his pass completion percentage rise dramatically.

Ranking in the 93rd percentile for progressive passes per 90 and 94th percentile for passes into the final third per 90 amongst qualifying midfielders, his penetrative passing is an important tool for unlocking low blocks. His ability to be this expansive without great cost to his pass completion percentage is a rare skill possessed by some of Europe’s very best midfielders.

Mats Wieffer passes — sources: ESPN; Setanta Sports; TNT Sports

Wieffer has amassed 11 assists in 62 starts for Feyenoord in all competitions since joining the club — an impressive return for a player not primarily expected to be a creator. He’s also added an additional 9 goals to his tally, showing he can provide a goal threat when necessary, especially as an aerial target from set-pieces. As has been addressed, United are notably weak from both defensive and offensive set-pieces, therefore adding a player of Wieffer's physical stature would be of great assistance in remedying these problems.

As has been suggested numerous times, press-resistance is vital for a holding midfielder in a possession-based system and Wieffer's press-resistance is a huge asset. In situations where Casemiro appears to struggle most, Wieffer genuinely excels as an exceptionally difficult player to press. He’s almost Busquets-esque in his ability to use his length in order to fend off pressure from opponents.

Mats Wieffer press-resistance — sources: Movistar; TNT Sports

Wieffer's composure is top class, never appearing flustered when pressed. Whilst the Busquets comparison is apt, the Dutchman is even more mobile than the legendary Spaniard. His ability to comfortably control the ball with his left-foot also allows him to receive possession from different angles and protect the ball from opponents approaching from all sides. He’s also a fantastic ball-carrier, using his long strides to dominate spaces with ease.

Mats Wieffer's ball-carrying — source: FBREF.com (powered by Opta)

*compared with positional peers in tier 2 league and continental competitions per 90

**statistics calculated over the last 365 days

Wieffer is reminiscent of the likes of Paul Pogba and Yaya Touré in his ability to carry with power and grace through the middle of the pitch. In conjunction with his long strides, he’s also deceptively fast which contributes to his carrying as well as his recoveries when defending transitions.

Evidently, Mats Wieffer is the complete package as midfielder.

Mats Wieffer radar — source: Cannon Stats

The Feyenoord star could form an incredible dynamic with Kobbie Mainoo as both midfielders are capable of operating in all phases and being effective in a number of different roles. Some may critique Wieffer's lack of a fully defined role, but I'd suggest this flexibility makes him more valuable and would represent a shift in United's transfer strategy whereby signings are purely geared towards the current manager.

Maximum fee: €50 million

DEPARTURES

A major clear-out is needed in order to fund the numerous new signings detailed in this piece and to trim the squad size and wage bill. Assuming each top target is signed for the maximum fee listed, that would represent an outlay of €337.5 million. Whilst I think most of these fees can be lowered, the club will still likely be spending in the region of €300 million and would require a number of sales to balance the books. Manchester United currently employ a number of players on expiring deals who the club cannot afford to lose for nothing, whilst there are other players who simply aren’t of the required level to stay at the club, but can still fetch good fees. United need to grow accustomed to selling players a year early as opposed to a year late, thus maximising their value. These sales will serve as addition by subtraction.

Beginning in goal, Tom Heaton’s contract expires this summer and, at 38 years old, United should be ready to move him on. Elyh Harrison is emerging as a talented prospect from the club's academy and he could serve as the third-choice goalkeeper whilst continuing to play for United's youth teams. Brandon Williams’ contract is expiring too and he almost certainly has no future at Old Trafford. United do have the option to extend his contract until 2025, but I don’t think that would be wise as they would run the risk of being unable to move him on for another season. Also seeing his contract expire is one Anthony Martial. On his massive wages and with his lack of availability through injury, this is an easy decision for the club. As mentioned prior, bringing in an experienced forward would allow United to let go of Anthony Martial and acquire a more reliable alternative.

Raphaël Varane's deal also appears to be expiring this summer and United seem no closer to agreeing a new deal with the Frenchman. Once again, the club reportedly have the option to extend his deal by an additional year but, with the heavy wages he’s on and his lack of availability, it appears as though the club would prefer to have him sign a new deal on far lower wages. By all accounts, such a deal is unlikely and Varane is expected to leave on a free transfer. There have also been attempts to renew Omari Forson’s contract for months now, but a deal does not seem any closer to being agreed. The youngster wants assurances of first team football and it’s unlikely that United can offer that on any sort of regular basis, especially with new additions likely joining the club. He likely isn't quite at the requisite level for regular first team football at Manchester United and, unfortunately, the club have left it too late and subsequently can’t receive a fee for him.

Donny van de Beek has severely struggled to make an impact in the Premier League. He's a technically secure and intelligent player, but lacks the pace, strength or engine to have a major impact in the league. Of course, United’s mismanagement and a few injury woes have played a part in the Dutchman's struggles, but he’s also simply a bad fit for Premier League football. His departure appears almost guaranteed, whether it be Frankfurt activating the option to purchase him permanently from his loan or a different club taking the chance on him.

Also on loan is Hannibal Mejbri, who likely hasn’t developed as quickly as Manchester United's recruitment team might’ve hoped when they signed him from Monaco in 2019. It remains unclear whether Sevilla would like to sign the Moroccan permanently considering his sporadic playing time, but he’ll likely have a fair number of suitors in the summer regardless. Another player who hasn’t quite developed as desired is Facundo Pellistri. The Uruguayan has displayed signs of quality, but he hasn’t been able to show it consistently enough and has often struggled with the physicality of the Premier League. Should his loan spell with Granada be viewed as successful, United may be able to generate a bidding war for his services in the summer, which would be a dream scenario for the club. Conversely, someone enjoying a very fruitful loan spell is Will Fish. The 21-year-old has attracted interest from several clubs due to his performances for Hibernian and he presents a real opportunity for United to receive a good fee for an academy player, which would represent pure profit for the club in profit and sustainability terms.

Victor Lindelöf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Christian Eriksen are all seeing their contracts expire in 2025, therefore selling these players in the summer would make sense in order to ensure a fee is received for them. Lindelöf likely wouldn’t garner a large sum for United, but rather the club receive a fee for him as opposed to losing him for free. Regardless, the new signings would limit his chances and he’ll be 30 years old in the summer. Jonny Evans can stay on as an emergency backup centre-back, meaning the Swede wouldn’t be needed. Evans is also an experienced head who helps set the culture and emphasise the importance of Manchester United as an institution to young players, so he'd be good to keep around.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is still just 26 years old and his skillset would be particularly valuable for a mid-table Premier League side or perhaps even a more defensive-minded, Champions League-level club in Europe such as Juventus. United should be able to get a good fee for him or, as previously mentioned, he could be used in a deal for Michael Olise. Christian Eriksen, on the other hand, simply cannot handle the physicality and athleticism of the Premier League anymore. His legs have largely gone and his complete ineffectiveness defensively hurts United to the extent that he isn’t really useful anymore, especially at 32 years of age.

Although his contract has longer to run, Casemiro is another player who has physically deteriorated recently. Those deep Champions League runs with Real Madrid are unsurprisingly taking their toll on the Brazilian and, also 32 years old, moving on from him this summer may be the smart move. The signings of a defensive midfielder and all-phase midfielder should help to mitigate these losses and ultimately strengthen the squad with younger legs. They would also enable United to consistently build-up from the back; a task that is made incredibly more difficult with the Brazil international in the team. He's still the only pure defensive midfielder permanently on United's books, so his departure would be contingent on multiple midfield additions.

Of course, there's the Jadon Sancho situation. His problems with discipline, effort and performance are well-documented, with the former two preceding his time at Manchester United. Perhaps the club would be willing to wait for a potential managerial change — which was likely Sancho’s plan too — but on his astronomical wages and his contract expiring in 2026, a sale this summer would allow United to recoup some of the ~€85 million they spent on the England international. His loan spell with Dortmund may go some way to restoring his value, at which point United would be wise to sell high if possible, perhaps to Dortmund themselves. However, this would require Sancho taking a significant wage cut or United agreeing to pay a percentage of his wages to offload him; not an ideal situation, but not unprecedented for the club.

Finally, United could also move on from likes of Radek Vitek, Rhys Bennett, Shola Shoretire, Joe Hugill and Charlie McNeill who are already in their 20s and don’t appear to have futures at the club. It's unlikely that significant fees will be received for them, but large sell-on clauses could be put on their sales to potentially generate future funds. These moves should help with the club's reported financial constraints in the transfer market, notwithstanding the cash injection from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment.

Many fans would include Scott McTominay amongst the departures, but his game-breaking traits as a box-crashing attacking midfielder/shadow striker make him a valuable option off the bench when chasing games. He's also a tremendous athlete and Manchester United could still use such a profile in the squad. The Scotland international's contract situation also means that United can afford to delay making a decision on his future for another season.

The full departure list (excluding non-first team players) reads as: Tom Heaton, Raphaël Varane, Victor Lindelöf, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Brandon Williams, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Hannibal Mejbri, Jadon Sancho, Facundo Pellistri, Omari Forson and Anthony Martial.

LOANS

I believe that three players could still have a future at Manchester United, but would need to go on loan next season to continue their development and assess whether they'd be good enough for the club: Willy Kambwala, Toby Collyer and Dan Gore. This is a crucial juncture in these youngsters’ development and said development cannot be allowed to stall. Championship loans, at the very least, would be ideal, as they represent a great opportunity at regular first team football at a high level. It would also allow them to play in a physically demanding league as they prepare for Premier League football.

Dan Gore is currently on loan at Port Vale in League One, but injuries to the youngster have essentially rendered the loan redundant. Many fans, including myself, feel as though he could’ve secured a Championship loan, but the priority now is simply getting him regular first team football in a demanding league as he's outgrown youth team football. Gore is only 19 years old so it’s too early to give up on him, but his next move will be very important in his development as a footballer.

Toby Collyer is in a somewhat similar position to Dan Gore. He arrived at Manchester United with high expectations having captained England at U16 and U17 levels. He was a hot prospect at Brighton & Hove Albion and it was seen as quite the coup for United to secure his signature. However, he hasn’t progressed quite as quickly as the club might’ve hoped. At 20 years old, he’s been appearing in Erik ten Hag's matchday squads, but has yet to make a first team appearance for the club. He may have a future at United, but a spell on loan, preferably to a Championship club, would provide more clarity as to whether he’s good enough to remain at Old Trafford.

Willy Kambwala appears to be in a far better position than both Gore and Collyer. Also just 19 years old, he’s regularly in United’s matchday squads, but, unlike Collyer, he's already played significant minutes for The Red Devils. Granted, this is in part due to the club's perpetual injury crisis in defence, but nonetheless, the France youth international has proven that he can handle the weight of the Manchester United shirt. That said, playing time is crucial for him at this age, so a Championship loan would do him a world of good (although a Premier League is a real possibility). United should have plenty of cover at centre-back next season so a loan move would be smart for the Congo-born starlet, ensuring that he receives regular football beyond the U21 side.

Manchester United have gotten the development of many youngsters horribly wrong over the years and have ended up losing players for far lower fees than other clubs like Manchester City or Chelsea would’ve obtained for players of the same quality. The likes of Anthony Elanga and Teden Mengi, who have been fantastic for Nottingham Forest and Luton Town respectively, could’ve had their value maximised with loan moves prior to their sales. Going even further back to a player like Angel Gomes, who was deemed to lack the necessary physicality for Premier League football, is now thriving with Lille in Ligue 1. It’s important that United do not make the same mistakes with players like Kambwala, Collyer and Gore who certainly have the potential to be first team players for the club or, at the very least, can be sold for healthy fees.

THE NEW LOOK RED DEVILS

Evidently, my vision for Manchester United involves significant squad turnover, but recent results and performances indicate that such an extreme change is more than necessary. These additions and sales would go some way to remedying many of United's weaknesses and provide greater flexibility for future transfer windows beyond the summer of 2024.

If the no. 1 target can be signed for each position examined in this piece, the squad would look as follows:

Manchester United 2024/25 potential squad

I'm strongly of the opinion that this would make for a very strong Manchester United squad going into the 2024/25 season. This is a high quality 25-man squad with quality competition and depth in all positions. There are many versatile players who can play a number of positions amongst this set of players, allowing for greater flexibility for the current manager or for a potential new man at the helm. It's a tactically, positionally and technically flexible squad, which is required at the highest level. With the right coaching, this team isn’t a million miles away from challenging the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as Europe's other heavy hitters such as Real Madrid and Inter Milan. However, there are evidently improvements that can still be made in future windows. It's still to be seen whether United play in Europe next season, but domestic cups and fluctuations in player form present opportunities to give plenty of minutes to rotation players and youth prospects.

This would clearly be a fairly young squad whilst still having a number of experienced players to lead them such as Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford among others. In my opinion, it gives United the ideal balance of youth and experience going into the new season. The training squad can be supplemented by talented academy players such as Harry Amass, Jayce Fitzgerald, Zachary Baumann, Jack and Tyler Fletcher, Amir Ibragimov and Shea Lacey. Harry Amass is of particular interest due to the fitness issues United face at left-back. He could present a long-term solution to the club's left-back woes directly from the academy. Having just turned 17 years old, he recently signed his first professional contract with United and has trained with the first team multiple times. As such, the youngster is evidently highly regarded at Old Trafford. These young players also provide additional options in case of emergencies and can bolster the squad, as we've seen in the case of Liverpool this season.

CONCLUSION

Fixing Manchester United is far from as simple as "buy good players, win big trophies" and this is an aspect of the rebuild that is strongly understood by the INEOS hierarchy. They've started by hiring the "best in class" executives and directors who can put structures in place to improve the club's recruitment. With better decision makers, United should be able to use their extensive resources to make better decisions in the transfer market.

The question of whether or not Erik ten Hag is the right man to lead Manchester United is a totally separate question that would require its own analysis — a task I may undertake soon. It's clear that the Dutchman must improve the team's performances if he is to remain Manchester United manager in the long term, but it does appear as though Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are prepared to work with Ten Hag in the summer and give him a chance to remedy the many issues he's currently facing. Regardless, as I've stressed throughout both parts of this piece, this summer's recruitment must be done with the acknowledgement that a potential managerial change is possible. Nonetheless, I hope I've provided a decent blueprint for how INEOS can begin their Manchester United rebuild.