It is one factor for Manchester United to be outplayed on the Etihad, however to even be overpowered away at a struggling Brentford facet is much extra alarming, with the Crimson Devils transport 31 pictures in opposition to Thomas Frank’s facet.
A key concern for Erik ten Hag as soon as once more was the midfield division on Saturday night, with Scott McTominay producing a worryingly abject show to additional showcase the necessity for reinforcement.
With Christian Eriksen additionally being touted for an exit this summer time – as has his midfield associate of final season, Casemiro – the Crimson Devils must be plotting to discover a appropriate, long-term colleague for Kobbie Mainoo within the centre of the park…
|
McTominay vs Brentford |
|
|---|---|
|
Stats |
McTominay |
|
Yellow Playing cards |
1 |
|
Cross accuracy |
70% |
|
Possession misplaced |
14 |
|
Duels misplaced |
8 |
|
Tackles |
1 |
|
Interceptions |
0 |
|
By way of Sofascore |
|
Man Utd’s seek for a midfielder
Based on stories popping out of Portugal – through Document – the Outdated Trafford outfit are believed to rivalling Barcelona for the signing of Sporting CP midfielder, Morten Hjulmand, with the Danish star having loved a promising first season in Lisbon.
The report means that each United and the LaLiga giants have been maintaining an in depth eye on the previous Lecce man with the view to creating a summer time transfer, albeit with no suggestion as but as as to if both facet will lodge a concrete supply.
This follows a previous report from The Solar again in January which claimed that Ten Hag and co have been even contemplating sending Facundo Pellistri within the different path so as to land the 24-year-old, albeit with the Primeira Liga facet as a substitute ready to see if anybody will set off his £69m launch clause.
How Hjulmand compares to Casemiro
Described as somebody who can “play alongside Mainoo for years to come back” by journalist Dean Jones, Hjulmand may very well be the defensive-minded presence that United are craving on the base of the midfield, releasing up the younger Englishman to work his magic in a extra superior.
As Mainoo indicated on his first senior worldwide begin in opposition to Belgium in midweek, he has the instruments to thrive in a extra attacking, box-to-box midfield berth, maybe indicating why he has beforehand earned comparisons to a sure Paul Pogba by former teammate, Anthony Elanga.
Not the holding midfielder that many – together with Sir Jim Ratcliffe – have instructed he’s, Mainoo is in want of a dominant pressure alongside him, therefore the curiosity in an “absolute monster” like Hjulmand, as hailed by author Zach Lowy.
A participant with the “physicality, positional consciousness and imaginative and prescient to play as a lone holding midfielder” – in keeping with Lowy – the 6 foot 1 ace may then characterize Mainoo’s dream associate, with the identical supply additionally describing him as an “improve on Casemiro” for the Crimson Devils.
Which may be a daring assertion to make when evaluating the lesser-known Dane with a five-time Champions League winner, though, on present type, it’s Hjulmand who would seemingly be the simpler operator for United.
That may be seen by the truth that outdoors of scoring 3 times and offering three assists within the league this season, the Sporting ace boasts a move accuracy price of 87% and has created 4 ‘large possibilities’, whereas additionally illustrating his defensive acumen by profitable 54% of his duels and notably averaging 5.1 balls recovered per recreation, as per Sofascore.
For Casemiro, in the meantime, the ageing Brazilian has scored simply as soon as and registered two assists in England’s prime flight, whereas additionally recording a move accuracy price of simply 83% and creating simply two ‘large possibilities’ in complete.
Defensively, the 32-year-old additionally falls brief largely having gained simply 49% of his complete duels and averaged 4.8 balls recovered per recreation – albeit whereas having fun with a superior document for tackles per recreation (3.1 v 1.9).
Maybe probably the most telling distinction, nevertheless, is simply how simply Casemiro is bypassed within the midfield having been dribbled previous on common 2.2 occasions per recreation in 16 league video games, whereas his youthful counterpart has solely been dribbled previous 0.7 occasions per recreation.
That alone ought to showcase why a change must be made this summer time, with Hjulmand maybe the left-field ‘improve’ that United are determined for.
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