Man Utd may quickly replicate Saka’s rise by unleashing “wonderkid” at LB

Whereas it can’t be used as an excuse to cowl up what has at occasions been a disappointing and irritating marketing campaign for Manchester United, there is not any denying that Erik ten Hag has not been helped by the plethora of accidents which have hampered his facet all through the season.

The Dutchman has notably needed to make do with out his former Ajax star, Lisandro Martinez for nearly the whole lot of 2023/24, with the World Cup winner having been restricted to only ten appearances in all competitions so far.

These woes haven’t been helped by separate points for the likes of Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Raphael Varane and Victor Lindelof at varied durations within the season, guaranteeing there was an actual sense of turbulence within the centre-back ranks.

It’s, nonetheless, at left-back the place arguably the most important and most sustained downside lies, with the Crimson Devils dropping Luke Shaw with an damage that would maintain him out till the top of the season, whereas understudy and forgotten man Tyrell Malacia has but to characteristic in any respect this time period as a result of his personal damage hell.

With Sergio Reguilon seeing his mortgage deal minimize brief courtesy of a break clause in January – and with Alvaro Fernandez shifting to Benfica on an preliminary short-term deal – Ten Hag has an actual dearth of choices in that position, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka the most recent makeshift resolution throughout the current win over Liverpool.

Whereas United will now doubtless hope to detect earlier than recruiting a new left-sided defender this summer season, Ten Hag could want to take into account trying to his academy ranks, with one sure teenager probably in a position to replicate the rise of Arsenal’s, Bukayo Saka.

Bukayo Saka’s file at Arsenal

United supporters is probably not too keen to present a lot acknowledgement relating to the type of a rival star, but it’s onerous to disregard the outstanding impression that Saka has made on the Emirates of late, changing into the figurehead for Mikel Arteta’s title hopefuls.

Nonetheless solely 22, the England worldwide already has 54 targets and 55 assists to his identify in 216 video games in all competitions so far for the Gunners, having already chipped in with 31 targets and assists throughout all fronts this season.

If Arsenal are to take pleasure in any type of success both this season – or past – Saka is sort of definitely set to be proper on the coronary heart of it, with the wing wizard having that knack for merely terrorising defences down the correct flank.

Why is that this related to United you ask? Nicely, as reminiscence serves, the Three Lions ace did the truth is spend a lot of his early stint within the Gunners first-team at left-back, notably enjoying in that position on 17 events within the 2019/20 season.

Having flitted between working in that defensive berth or in a extra superior position within the youth set-up, Saka – who made his full debut for the membership on the age of simply 17 in 2018 – was in a position to plug a niche at full-back initially, previous to transitioning into the devastating right-winger that Premier League defences worry at the moment.

Associated

Man Utd should rue dropping a “wonderkid” who’s now price as a lot as Mainoo

The extremely gifted teen left Outdated Trafford on the lookout for first-team soccer.

Apparently, so far as United are involved, the membership may probably have an rising expertise who can observe Saka’s pathway within the type of Bendito Mantato, with {the teenager} definitely making a buzz at current.

Bendito Mantato’s season in numbers

Whereas hopes of that includes within the first crew within the close to future could appear untimely as Mantato is simply 16, as beforehand acknowledged Saka himself was solely a yr older when he was handed an opportunity on the Emirates, guaranteeing it is probably not too lengthy earlier than the United man does characteristic below Ten Hag.

Because the Manchester Night Information not too long ago revealed, there may be notable curiosity in Mantato at current from rival golf equipment, with the report noting the comparability between the teen and Saka, as a result of his capacity to characteristic at left-back or on the correct flank.

In The Pipeline

Soccer FanCast’s Within the Pipeline sequence uncovers the perfect wonderkids in world soccer. Each membership desires of getting the subsequent Mbappe of their academy, do not they?

The thrilling “wonderkid” – as per U23 scout Antonio Mango – appears like he will not be going anyplace if the most recent studies are to be believed, nonetheless, with the indication being that he has already verbally agreed scholarship phrases along with his present facet.

Tieing Mantato right down to a brand new contract will surely be in United’s pursuits, not least for his likeness to Saka, with the longer term star having caught hearth this season after scoring 5 targets in simply 5 video games within the U18 Premier League.

That included a stunning four-goal haul within the current comeback victory over Blackburn Rovers, with Mantato’s first objective showcasing his Saka-esque nature as he expertly weaved his method into the world, earlier than reducing in onto his favoured left foot and lashing house.

At a time when Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho are shining within the senior ranks, Mantato has already been pictured in first-team coaching in current weeks, additional elevating hopes that he’s set to be the subsequent star off the membership’s conveyor belt of expertise.

In fact, a lot of the joy could also be surrounding his present brilliance on the wing, but amid United’s left-back predicament – and with Shaw’s repeated damage points posing a long-term downside – the teenager ace may symbolize a wildcard resolution.

He has lined up in that position on a number of events this season for England’s U16 facet, making his promotion definitely one thing to think about for Ten Hag – with Mantato solely not too long ago making his U21s debut towards West Bromwich Albion.

Placing religion in a single so younger could symbolize a danger, but after wanting on the examples of Mainoo, Garnacho, and Saka at Arsenal, turning to the academy ranks is so typically a smart resolution.

As that man Mango acknowledged, Bendito Mantato – “bear in mind the identify“….