It’s been a busy start to the week at Old Trafford with word of fresh faces and midfield regeneration taking centre stage.
Having successfully completed his medical, Andrey Santos was officially unveiled as a Manchester United player, putting pen to paper on a five-plus-one-year deal in the North West.
However, it was news of a quickfire move for Youri Tielemans that truly caught the footballing world off guard.
Following David Ornstein’s morning revelation, the Reds are set to seal a £35 million transfer for the Aston Villa playmaker, taking advantage of a welcome release clause.
The Belgium captain is contracted for another two years in Birmingham, and Villa have no desire to lose him. But Unai Emery’s side is powerless to resist the approach, with United eager to finalise as soon as possible.
It goes without saying that this was news to us this morning, and the way the club maintained control of the negotiations is a very welcome sight. Long may it continue.
Contrary to some views, we do not claim to be a divine organisation with compelling knowledge beyond the mainstream market.
Although we have been privileged to share various transfer dealings, such as Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona journey, a pursuit for Ederson, and Madrid’s desire to retain Aurelien Tchouameni, Tielemans is a lovely surprise.
And despite the grumblings from a small cohort of expectedly underwhelmed individuals, this move makes so much sense for bolstering a squad to fulfil Michael Carrick’s aspirations in moving forward.
Addressing the initial elephant in the room: £83m for a midfield duo of Santos and Tielemans reads a hell of a lot better than £85m for a 22-year-old with financial motivations.
Some may choose to disregard this, but when all is said and done, squad development towards a reasonable attempt at an extremely ambitious Project 150 was the primary goal this summer.
At 29, Tielemans represents the literal definition of a Premier League-proven option, boasting 244 domestic appearances and nearly 19,000 top-flight minutes in England. Not forgetting his 90 caps for the Belgian national side.
Some may scoff at Santos with absurd suggestions about his capabilities, but the Brazilian is young at 22. Call me what you will, but there’s little harm in adding a veteran mentality alongside youth when searching for squad harmony.
Additionally, The Athletic’s report states that the one-time Leicester fan favourite prioritised a move to United over others, adding desire to a list of already notable talents in midfield.
Allow me to clarify something before we continue: the dynamics of this pursuit make perfect sense for a sporting department that has embraced a data-driven approach.
While Arsenal pursue a multi-million-pound transfer for Bruno Guimaraes, the metrics reveal far more than many are willing to accept, especially given their age difference of only six months.
Statistics via datamb.football
Although the Newcastle man holds the edge in progressive carries, Youri reigns supreme from a defensive perspective, while matching or exceeding the distribution metrics of both.
Ask yourself this: is six months really worth a fee that could rise as high as £50m more?
Not only is the Belgian’s ball-playing ability well documented, but his confidence in possession is an invaluable trait for club and country.
Furthermore, as with Casemiro, what he can offer in mentorship to younger teammates like Santos and Kobbie Mainoo is worth more than its weight in gold.
In contrast, he can also inherit from Carrick, one of several active coaches with elite experience orchestrating midfield matters as a former Champions League star.
There has been a lot said and written throughout the summer, particularly after Omar Berrada’s revealing conversation with Andy Mitten on Inside Carrington.
Without going over the top, the former Barcelona executive was adamant that United were prepared to handle any form of market pushback.
Failed pursuits for Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes left plenty feeling angered, even turning on yours truly and suggesting I was “mouthpiece” or “an Ineos shill”. For what it’s worth, I assure you that I am not.
But following a very successful attacking rebuild last summer, this sporting team supplied the blueprint for an attractive, forward-thinking unit.
Although some continue to spew negativity today, it’s hard not to look at the current midfield approach and feel somewhat positive about it.
Each acquisition appears calculated and lacking the old commercial incentives. It’s more about purchasing specific cogs to refine an existing structure, rather than starting over to complement a shiny new toy.
Youri Tielemans represents a welcome surprise and a truly brilliant addition at a time when Carrick requires complete support from his backroom team.
As supporters, this is exactly what we should be applauding.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our social channels–photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
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