As we enter the first summer period under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, several critical areas of his Manchester United squad require attention.
Following the departure of veteran defender Raphael Varane, there is an expectation that Erik ten Hag’s defensive arsenal will receive some much-needed strengthening.
The Frenchman offered everything the Old Trafford faithful could have wanted, but – much to the dismay of the fanbase – his body endured a barrage of niggling injuries that hampered any form of regularity.
With the return of fan-favourite Lisandro Martinez to the starting lineup, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, and Willy Kambwala offer a form of steel in rotation.
But, if the club is serious about returning to domestic and European domination, shrewd signings are mandatory to solidify a competitive unit. Additionally, compliance with the Profit and Sustainability Rules dictates a well-scouted approach that returns value for money.
Keeping all this in mind, the Theatre of Red has unlocked its scouting network to offer three premier options to bolster Ten Hag’s defensive pairing.
Odilon Kossounou
Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, the 23-year-old Ivory Coast international featured heavily for Bayer Leverkusen across their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double success.
Despite playing within an attack-first side, his defensive metrics are impressive. Compared against European football’s ‘Big Five’ leagues over the last 365 days, he averaged 1.5 successful tackles, 1.33 blocks, and 1.24 interceptions per 90 minutes.
Additionally, he won an average of 1.24 aerial battles and 2.19 clearances per 90′.
During an age of football where swift transitions offer optimum success – particularly in a Ten Hag setup – the ball-playing defender excels in technical metrics.
He averaged 70.20 passes per 90′ with an 89% pass completion rate – while contributing a staggering 6.77 progressive passes per 90′, ranking him in the top 2 per cent of defenders in Europe.
Furthermore, he engages with the football, negating a high-press with his physicality and ability to carry. Despite predominantly playing in the heart of defence, he averaged 2.36 progressive carries and 0.99 successful take-ons per 90′ – ranking at the top of the European leagues.
With a market value of β¬35 Million, Kossounou offers invaluable versatility with the ability to feature on the right side of the backline and in the holding midfield role.
Chrislain Matsima
At 22 years of age, Chrislain Matsima is the latest French footballer to attract the attention of a host of European sides, following an impressive loan period with a very poor Clermont Foot outfit.
Disregarding the performances of his temporary club, the 6-foot-3-inch framed central defender fought tooth and nail against every opponent he faced, displaying prowess in defensive and attacking phases.
The Monaco man averaged 4.75 clearances per 90 minutes, on top of 1.64 tackles, 1.04 interceptions and 1.10 blocks. Furthermore, his agility is a valuable weapon, utilising his size to win 2.01 aerial battles per outing.
In possession, he offers confidence beyond his years in the carry and through distribution. Averaging 53.95 passes with a completion per cent of 88.5, he shelled in with 4.63 progressive passes per 90.
Furthermore, he was confident in transition with his face to goal, achieving a credible 1.10 progressive carries each outing. With a market value of only β¬7M and an optimum age for growth, Matsima presents a savvy replacement for Varane.
AliduΒ Seidu
The final name we shall cover is Alidu Seidu from Ligue 1 side Rennes, and what a prospect the defender offers for a shrewd scouting department.
At 23, he presents an ideal age profile with an astonishing output to rival many of the ‘Big Five’ players. In defence, he averaged 2.74 tackles and 1.88 interceptions per 90 minutes – ranking in the top 5 per cent of defenders in Europe.
Like Kossounou, he offers versatility and is comfortable playing across the entire defensive line. He averaged 57.26 passes per 90′ with an 83.6 per cent completion rate – offering 2.98 progressive passes per outing.
Despite a height that rivals Martinez at 5 feet 8 inches, his strength and recovery skills also supply a similar sight to the Argentine. He averaged 1.54 progressive carries and 0.82 successful take-ons – ranking him in the top five per cent.
With a transfer valuation of only β¬9M, Seidu is another example of the talent available at a fraction of the cost of more household names – yet his ceiling offers a tremendous proposition.
Let us know what you think about these defensive options and if you would add anybody else to the list.
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