သတင်း

Transfer of the Week: Manchester United’s defensive renovation

Transfer of the Week: Manchester United’s defensive renovation

မျှဝေရန်

Over the course of the summer transfer window, we will take a close look at some of the biggest and best business with our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. This time, we will take a look at Manchester United’s bid to improve their defence.

By Neel Shelat

Although there was a good deal of optimism going into it, the 2023/24 season turned out to be another disappointment for Manchester United. They finished as low as 8th in the Premier League and were sent packing from their UEFA Champions League group, so it was only their FA Cup victory that somewhat salvaged the season and likely saved Erik ten Hag’s job.

As David Moyes famously once said, Manchester United must improve in a number of areas. Among them is defending, as they conceded more shots than every team in Europe’s top five leagues bar Sheffield United and were the fifth-worst side in the Premier League by xG conceded.

Of course, many of their problems stemmed from tactical issues so a lot can be fixed on the training ground rather than the transfer window. Nevertheless, the Red Devils have not been shy of spending big on new signings and look set to make a few more in the defensive department, so let us take a closer look at what they have been up to.

Leny Yoro (€62M)

The biggest signing of the transfer window so far as far as transfer fees are concerned was Manchester United’s move to bring in Leny Yoro.

Eyebrows were raised at the transfer fee of €62 million as Yoro only had a year left on his contract at Lille, but the level of competition for his signature enabled the French club to hold out for a big fee as Manchester United ultimately outbid Real Madrid.

The young centre-back made his senior debut at just 16 years old and was promoted to the first team soon enough. He was only 17 at the start of the 2023/24 campaign but established himself as a regular starter at the heart of his side’s back line, going on to play over 2,600 Ligue 1 minutes.

The fact that Yoro did not look out of place for a European-level club at such a young age says everything about his quality and potential. While many of his peers struggle with the physicality of senior football, he looked comfortable in the most demanding position on the pitch in that respect.

Raw defensive stats have to be carefully handled as they reveal less about a player’s quality and more about their tendencies, but even they clearly highlight the French teenager’s brilliance. His low tackling and duelling volume should not be a cause for concern as that is a result of his preference to stay in the back line and not step out and commit to too many challenges, but his win rates are the most important metrics and they look very good indeed.

Yoro is a fantastic prospect on the ball as well. He is a very secure passer as he averaged over 58 passes per 90 at a completion rate of 92.2% last season, and he also enjoys carrying the ball forward when given the space and opportunity. Undoubtedly, he has all the tools needed to quickly evolve into a world-class ball-playing centre-back.

Of course, the 18-year-old defender also has room to improve defensively, as he can get beaten one-on-one in awkward positions at times. His tall frame and long strides mean that he has the aerial strength and pace to become a great recovery defender for a possession-dominant team, so a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs was always only a matter of time.

With all of that being said, it is important to be mindful of Yoro’s young age and the fact that his game time and development still needs to be carefully managed even if he seems destined to be one of the world’s best defenders in a few years. Manchester United’s track record with injuries and game-time management under Ten Hag has not been great to say the least, so that could be the only cause for concern around this move. However, some things can not be legislated for, such as Yoro’s injury setback suffered during a pre-season tour game against Arsenal in the United States.

Other Targets

Ideally, Yoro should be seen as one for the future and a rotation option in the present rather than an immediate first-choice starter. In that case, Manchester United would need to sign at least one more centre-back to replace the departed Raphaël Varane.

Indeed, they have been linked with a couple of central defenders, most notably Matthijs de Ligt. Given how long he has been around, it is easy to forget that he is still only 24 years old. His CV at such a young age is mightily impressive, and he definitely still has all the makings of a top-class centre-back even if he might not have fully lived up to his potential yet.

With previous experience working under Ten Hag during his most successful coaching spell and an ability to play on either side, De Ligt would surely be a sensible signing for the right price around €50 million, which is what Bayern Munich are said to be asking for.

Manchester United have also been linked with Jarrad Branthwaite for quite a while, and that move may soon develop as Everton have signed a potential replacement in Jake O’Brien. At 22 years old, he too is an exciting young prospect and is proven in the Premier League having impressed at the heart of Everton’s defence last season.

Of course, the stylistic switch a move to Old Trafford would demand would be a big one, but Branthwaite has proven himself as a polished ball player during his loan spell at PSV Eindhoven. Obviously, he had a lot more defending to do at Goodison Park, and he did his duties quite well by looking strong on the ground and in the air. 

The young Englishman is also capable of playing on the left or right, though he prefers the former due to his left-footedness. That means he would have to compete with Lisandro Martínez for a starting spot, although he might be given an open run to the XI if the Argentine international’s injury issues flare up again. The only question United have to answer before making this signing, then, is whether Branthwaite is worth the €80 million plus Everton are said to be holding out for.

Manchester United are also looking to make some more signings in a couple of other defensive positions, including right back. De Ligt’s Bayern Munich teammate Noussair Mazraoui looks likeliest to be signed at the moment, and he would be a significant upgrade on Aaron Wan-Bissaka in terms of ball-playing at least. His versatility and ability to play on the left would also make him a useful back-up for Luke Shaw, who has also struggled with injury issues.

The more important position is defensive midfield, where Casemiro’s form and fitness left United lacking a great ball-winning midfielder. Manuel Ugarte is being targeted to solve that issue, although his build-up weaknesses that have been exposed at Paris Saint-Germain may create a different problem, if he is signed to be a regular starter.

Clearly, Manchester United have a lot of work to do and will not find a magical fix for their defensive issues from last season. They look on course to make a couple of good signings but will have to spend some big money, and even so it seems unlikely that it will be all smooth sailing for them in 2024/25.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Real Madrid game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Transfer of the Week: Manchester United’s defensive renovation

Over the course of the summer transfer window, we will take a close look at some of the biggest and best business with our ‘Transfer of the Week’ columns. This time, we will take a look at Manchester United’s bid to improve their defence.

By Neel Shelat

Although there was a good deal of optimism going into it, the 2023/24 season turned out to be another disappointment for Manchester United. They finished as low as 8th in the Premier League and were sent packing from their UEFA Champions League group, so it was only their FA Cup victory that somewhat salvaged the season and likely saved Erik ten Hag’s job.

As David Moyes famously once said, Manchester United must improve in a number of areas. Among them is defending, as they conceded more shots than every team in Europe’s top five leagues bar Sheffield United and were the fifth-worst side in the Premier League by xG conceded.

Of course, many of their problems stemmed from tactical issues so a lot can be fixed on the training ground rather than the transfer window. Nevertheless, the Red Devils have not been shy of spending big on new signings and look set to make a few more in the defensive department, so let us take a closer look at what they have been up to.

Leny Yoro (€62M)

The biggest signing of the transfer window so far as far as transfer fees are concerned was Manchester United’s move to bring in Leny Yoro.

Eyebrows were raised at the transfer fee of €62 million as Yoro only had a year left on his contract at Lille, but the level of competition for his signature enabled the French club to hold out for a big fee as Manchester United ultimately outbid Real Madrid.

The young centre-back made his senior debut at just 16 years old and was promoted to the first team soon enough. He was only 17 at the start of the 2023/24 campaign but established himself as a regular starter at the heart of his side’s back line, going on to play over 2,600 Ligue 1 minutes.

The fact that Yoro did not look out of place for a European-level club at such a young age says everything about his quality and potential. While many of his peers struggle with the physicality of senior football, he looked comfortable in the most demanding position on the pitch in that respect.

Raw defensive stats have to be carefully handled as they reveal less about a player’s quality and more about their tendencies, but even they clearly highlight the French teenager’s brilliance. His low tackling and duelling volume should not be a cause for concern as that is a result of his preference to stay in the back line and not step out and commit to too many challenges, but his win rates are the most important metrics and they look very good indeed.

Yoro is a fantastic prospect on the ball as well. He is a very secure passer as he averaged over 58 passes per 90 at a completion rate of 92.2% last season, and he also enjoys carrying the ball forward when given the space and opportunity. Undoubtedly, he has all the tools needed to quickly evolve into a world-class ball-playing centre-back.

Of course, the 18-year-old defender also has room to improve defensively, as he can get beaten one-on-one in awkward positions at times. His tall frame and long strides mean that he has the aerial strength and pace to become a great recovery defender for a possession-dominant team, so a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs was always only a matter of time.

With all of that being said, it is important to be mindful of Yoro’s young age and the fact that his game time and development still needs to be carefully managed even if he seems destined to be one of the world’s best defenders in a few years. Manchester United’s track record with injuries and game-time management under Ten Hag has not been great to say the least, so that could be the only cause for concern around this move. However, some things can not be legislated for, such as Yoro’s injury setback suffered during a pre-season tour game against Arsenal in the United States.

Other Targets

Ideally, Yoro should be seen as one for the future and a rotation option in the present rather than an immediate first-choice starter. In that case, Manchester United would need to sign at least one more centre-back to replace the departed Raphaël Varane.

Indeed, they have been linked with a couple of central defenders, most notably Matthijs de Ligt. Given how long he has been around, it is easy to forget that he is still only 24 years old. His CV at such a young age is mightily impressive, and he definitely still has all the makings of a top-class centre-back even if he might not have fully lived up to his potential yet.

With previous experience working under Ten Hag during his most successful coaching spell and an ability to play on either side, De Ligt would surely be a sensible signing for the right price around €50 million, which is what Bayern Munich are said to be asking for.

Manchester United have also been linked with Jarrad Branthwaite for quite a while, and that move may soon develop as Everton have signed a potential replacement in Jake O’Brien. At 22 years old, he too is an exciting young prospect and is proven in the Premier League having impressed at the heart of Everton’s defence last season.

Of course, the stylistic switch a move to Old Trafford would demand would be a big one, but Branthwaite has proven himself as a polished ball player during his loan spell at PSV Eindhoven. Obviously, he had a lot more defending to do at Goodison Park, and he did his duties quite well by looking strong on the ground and in the air. 

The young Englishman is also capable of playing on the left or right, though he prefers the former due to his left-footedness. That means he would have to compete with Lisandro Martínez for a starting spot, although he might be given an open run to the XI if the Argentine international’s injury issues flare up again. The only question United have to answer before making this signing, then, is whether Branthwaite is worth the €80 million plus Everton are said to be holding out for.

Manchester United are also looking to make some more signings in a couple of other defensive positions, including right back. De Ligt’s Bayern Munich teammate Noussair Mazraoui looks likeliest to be signed at the moment, and he would be a significant upgrade on Aaron Wan-Bissaka in terms of ball-playing at least. His versatility and ability to play on the left would also make him a useful back-up for Luke Shaw, who has also struggled with injury issues.

The more important position is defensive midfield, where Casemiro’s form and fitness left United lacking a great ball-winning midfielder. Manuel Ugarte is being targeted to solve that issue, although his build-up weaknesses that have been exposed at Paris Saint-Germain may create a different problem, if he is signed to be a regular starter.

Clearly, Manchester United have a lot of work to do and will not find a magical fix for their defensive issues from last season. They look on course to make a couple of good signings but will have to spend some big money, and even so it seems unlikely that it will be all smooth sailing for them in 2024/25.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every Real Madrid game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.