With a summer of change looming at the Theatre of Dreams, there is an expectation of an exodus of players alongside a host of new arrivals.
Amongst the many names already linked with a big-money move to Manchester United, Coventry City’s Ben Sheaf has emerged as a viable option.
The Theatre of Red understands United have been impressed by his consistency throughout a challenging campaign – including a notable performance against Erik ten Hag’s side in the FA Cup.
Given Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s desire to shave expenditure and rebuild the squad within set parameters, shrewd acquisitions are required – with a deal for Sheaf in the region of €17-€25 Million a possibility.
But what characteristics have attracted the 20-time champions of England to the midfielder, and what could he add to the squad?
A brief background
The 26-year-old Dartford midfielder began his journey at West Ham United at 13 before moving to London rivals Arsenal in 2014.
He impressed with the Gunners throughout his development, with then-manager Arsene Wenger offering special recognition following a notable campaign for the U23 squad in 2019.
“He’s always ahead of the game, and his anticipation quality is absolutely huge,” Wenger told the Londoner’s official site.
“He has that kind of mental strength as well. A typical British way of handling things, facing the difficulties – with a very cool and intelligent way.”
Following loan stints at Stevenage and Doncaster Rovers, Sheaf joined newly-promoted Coventry City in 2020 on a loan deal with an option to buy.
The Sky Blues were immediately impressed and set about solidifying his permanent transfer.
The central midfielder has since made 131 appearances, providing seven goals and six assists.
The metrics behind the talented midfielder
Versatility is the optimum word, and an ability to play both ways is fundamentally necessary.
Predominantly, Sheaf acts as a defensive midfielder and regularly displays competence in both transition phases.
In defence, his output returns a compelling read – with 3.68 tackles averaged per 90 minutes, alongside 1.56 blocks and 1.46 interceptions.
The regularity of his prowess ranks him in the top 10 percentile when combing these key metrics.
In possession, we see a confident footballer – capable on the ball and press-resistant.
He attempted 64.98 passes per 90′ over the last 365 days, with an 83.9% completion rate.
Interestingly, he offered a staggering 8.34 progressive passes per 90 – ranking him in the top 4 percentile, with 6.71 passes into the final third.
His physical strength is notable, and his ability to carry the ball from defence is invaluable.
He averaged 2.19 progressive carries per 90′ with 1.22 successful take-on. Furthermore, he supplied 2.02 carries into the final third per appearance – highlighting his undeniable versatility on the field.
Catching the eye in Wembley
Despite missing his spot kick during the penalty shoot-out against The Reds at Wembley, Sheaf’s stock grew dramatically with an emphatic showing.
In defence, he won 100% of his tackles (4/4) and provided 11 ball recoveries, with four successful aerial duels out of five attempted.
Additionally, he provided one key block and reigned supreme in eight ground duels.
In transition, he was central to many swift counters, enabling his attackers with 13 passes into the final third – while alleviating pressure with two successful dribbles out of his defensive area.
He covered every blade of grass and certainly did not look out of place against his Manchester opposition.
From the Championship with love
Many people grimace at the prospect of bolstering their squad with Championship talent, and this is very much a dated debate.
The calibre of opposition and competitive nature of the division is easily comparable with the Eredivisie – a competition that plenty of Premier division outfits – United included – are happy to overpay from.
When assessing the range of talent available, success is not a guarantee – but that is equally relevant to acquisitions from any other region.
Take Viktor Gyokeres, Adam Wharton and Morgan Rogers as three recent examples of the benefits of shopping closer to home.
A title-challenging squad consists of various cogs. At 26, Ben Sheaf would offer versatility, experience and composure to accommodate and complement the likes of Kobbie Mainoo.
Given the fee, this would be the definition of a shrewd deal.
However, playing time will always offer stable reasoning, and interest from lower Premier League outfits also exists.
If United pursue the Coventry midfielder, supporters should be very pleased, and recognise the player over the division he currently resides.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Would you be happy with Sheaf arriving at the Theatre of Dreams?
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