The 2023/24 season got here to an finish in the absolute best style for Manchester United final Saturday. It had not been a straightforward marketing campaign for Erik ten Hag’s facet previous to their FA Cup last victory over Manchester Metropolis only one week in the past, but they ended on a excessive notice.
It was a spectacular efficiency from the Purple Devils within the Wembley spectacle, nicking two objectives via academy stars Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, but additionally defying Metropolis all through the sport and holding out for a 2-1 victory; solely Jeremy Doku might breach United’s defence.
That victory secured United Europa League soccer for subsequent season, one thing which they didn’t do via their end within the Premier League. Ten Hag’s facet got here eighth within the high flight this season and had been a way off securing a Champions League spot; eight factors to be actual.
With European soccer secured for the 2024/25 season, it makes it simpler for United to draw big-name gamers to the membership over the summer time switch window.
As per talkSPORT, INEOS are “assured” of securing the double signing of Michael Olise and Jarrad Branthwaite. Not too long ago, they’ve additionally been linked with one other thrilling prospect in European soccer, who they may make a transfer for this summer time.
Man Utd seeking to signal versatile attacker
The participant in query right here is flexible PSG attacker Xavi Simons, who has spent this season on mortgage at RB Leipzig. It has been an exquisite 12 months for the younger Dutchman, and his performances have doubtlessly earned him a transfer to Outdated Trafford.
That’s, if the reviews are to be believed. In keeping with Spanish reviews, by way of TEAMtalk, United are “decided to signal Simons on a season-long mortgage”. PSG are seemingly keen to log off on one other mortgage transfer, which might be Simons’ third in as many seasons.
A mortgage transfer would swimsuit United higher in some ways, as a result of it might not affect their summer time switch finances a lot, a minimum of compared to how a lot he might price the membership. Simons’ present worth is £85m, in keeping with Soccer Observatory, which represents a substantial saving for United.
Nonetheless, as per the reviews, Simons has “no actual need” to signify the Purple Devils, or certainly play within the Premier League. As a substitute, he prefers a transfer again to his outdated facet, Barcelona, the place he got here via their well-known La Masia academy. This is probably not doable this summer time, given Barca’s monetary strife. A transfer to Outdated Trafford could also be Simons’ solely possibility.
Why Simons can be a very good signing
The signing of Simons would definitely signify good enterprise for Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS. Within the final two seasons, he has been in stellar kind.
For PSV throughout his mortgage spell in 2022/23, Simons received the Golden Boot within the Eredivisie, scoring 19 objectives in 34 video games, in addition to registering 9 assists. This season for Leipzig, he has eight objectives and 13 assists in 32 Bundesliga video games, in addition to two objectives and two assists in eight Champions League video games.
One other spectacular a part of Simons’ sport is his versatility. Throughout his first-team and youth profession, the 21-year-old has performed proper throughout the entrance line, at centre-forward, each flanks, as a quantity 10 and even in central midfield. Not solely that, he has constantly put up some spectacular numbers proper throughout all of the roles he has performed. Having a participant with as a lot versatility as Simons in your squad might effectively be invaluable for United subsequent season.
|
Xavi Simons’ file per place (youth and first workforce) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Place |
Video games |
Targets |
Assists |
|
Centre midfield |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
Attacking midfield |
26 |
13 |
8 |
|
Left-wing |
43 |
13 |
13 |
|
Proper-wing |
28 |
7 |
6 |
|
Centre ahead |
10 |
5 |
7 |
|
Stats from Transfermarkt |
|||
Simons’ high quality can also be mirrored in his Fbref stats when in comparison with different midfielders in Europe over the past 12 months. Firstly, his spectacular inventive nature shines via. The 21-year-old is a superb inventive affect, adept at threading via balls into the trail of his teammates within the last third.
He might obtain passes on the half flip from the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, then look to seek out teammates forward. The 2 would definitely be a duo to excite United followers with the latter taking English soccer by storm of late, notably incomes a spot in England’s provisional squad for the European Championships after simply months of normal senior soccer.
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So, how would that mixture work? Properly, given the United goal averages 2.71 key passes per 90 minutes, which ranks him within the high 3%, and a couple of.19 passes into the penalty field, which locations him within the 2% of midfielders in Europe, it might work fairly effectively certainly.
When carrying the ball, Simons is an explosive dribbler, who is ready to swiftly change path because of his fast flip of tempo, and slalom out and in of opposition defenders due to his low centre of gravity. He averages 4.93 progressive carries per 90 minutes and 4.27 carries into the ultimate third per 90 minutes. Each of those metrics place him within the high 1%. Simons additionally averages 1.22 carries into the penalty field per 90 minutes, rating him within the high 2%.
The Dutch maestro is an impactful participant on the sport typically, which is mirrored in his stats. He averages 6.07 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, which ranks him within the high 1%, and 0.66 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, inserting him within the high 2%. He all the time finds a method to make issues occur.
One of many negatives of United signing Simons this summer time can be how he truly matches into the facet beneath Ten Hag, or certainly a brand new supervisor.
Certainly, Simons’ versatility is a profit, but, United have depth in a number of of the positions he notably excels in. On the left wing, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are first selection, and at quantity 10, they’ve Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount as their depth there. Fernandes is especially necessary beneath Ten Hag, and it appears unlikely he can be displaced.
Simons might play as a centre-forward, offering a rotational possibility together with Rasmus Hojlund, who’s now United’s solely striker following Anthony Martial’s departure. Nonetheless, the Dutchman is extra productive enjoying in a deeper function. In consequence, seeing him play alongside Mainoo – scorer of an amazing FA Cup last purpose – within the centre of the pitch would possibly effectively be the reply.
Discovering a job for him may very well be problematic however having a participant of that high quality and flexibility to complement United’s squad and add nice depth is arguably too good to show down.
Soccer scout Antonio Mango described Simons on X as “great”, and, given the stats checked out, it’s onerous to argue towards him. He would definitely be a elegant accomplice subsequent to Mainoo in midfield.
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