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Manchester United are on the hunt for a brand new midfielder this summer time after Ruben Amorim requested an athletic quantity eight to bolster his squad after the membership’s worst season within the Premier League period.
However United’s main weak point lies in Amorim’s misfiring ahead line with the senior placing partnership of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combining for simply seven league targets final yr.
Equally, the membership are anticipated to prioritise the gross sales of Alejandro Garnacho, after the Argentina worldwide’s public dispute with Amorim, and the three loanees – Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho – to assist generate funds for the summer time price range.
This implies upgrades will have to be sourced to remodel the assault with solely 4 groups scoring fewer targets than United final season – Everton and the three relegated sides, Leicester Metropolis, Ipswich City and Southampton.
A £62.5 million deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers ahead Matheus Cunha has already been agreed whereas the Reds are locked in negotiations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo at the same worth level.
A brand new quantity 9 can also be thought of an pressing precedence with advances made for Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt) after a failed pursuit of Liam Delap, who selected Stamford Bridge over Previous Trafford regardless of “face-to-face” talks.
However this attack-centric method will command the overwhelming majority of the summer time warfare chest with little room left for reinforcements elsewhere on the pitch. And because of this United should prioritise a transfer for Sevilla midfield normal Lucien Agoume – to offer Amorim with the precise profile of midfielder he has demanded at an reasonably priced worth.
A Full Midfielder
Agoume, 23, has emerged as one of many standout younger midfielders in La Liga in latest seasons, demonstrating glorious defensive instincts coupled with underrated ball-progression talents and excellent physicality.
Standing 6’1, the France U-21 worldwide, presently enjoying within the European Championship in Slovakia, acts because the lynchpin in Sevilla’s midfield. Amongst midfielders in Europe’s prime 5 league, he ranks within the ninety fifth percentile for interceptions, 87th for aerial duels, and 86th for tackles.
Sevilla endured a depressing marketing campaign, nonetheless, narrowly avoiding relegation by only one level after ending seventeenth in La Liga. Agoume was a uncommon vivid spot amid a sea of mediocrity on the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
And regardless of his aspect’s dismal type, and being tasked primarily with defensive tasks, the Frenchman nonetheless supplied high quality in possession for the Rojiblancos.
He clocked in on the seventy fifth percentile for assists, 78th for profitable take-ons and 73rd for progressive carries, evidencing his means to be as efficient with the ball as with out. The scope for these statistics to enhance even additional in a greater crew is apparent.
Agoume presents the precise profile Amorim prefers in a midfielder with the Portuguese coach’s 3-4-2-1 system putting a substantial amount of stress on the central pivot with a necessity for brains and brawn in equal measure. Comparisons have been drawn with N’Golo Kante after each gamers emerged from the second division in France, demonstrating equally well-rounded skillsets.
The necessity for a brand new midfielder at Previous Trafford is apparent – as Amorim has identified – and Agoume suits the invoice completely.
Christian Eriksen is ready to depart United this month whereas neither Casemiro nor Kobbie Mainoo supply the requisite physicality Amorim calls for. Conversely, Manuel Ugarte is great in regaining the ball however presents little as soon as he does.
This leaves Bruno Fernandes as the one different senior choice in Amorim’s squad, however stationing the Portugal worldwide deeper in midfield inhibits his goal-scoring menace at a time when the crew’s assault desperately wants to enhance.
A Discount Worth
United have previously been linked with Agoume in January, that means the French midfielder has admirers at Previous Trafford already.
However Sevilla are experiencing a monetary “disaster” and native reporter Máximo de la Cruz Ramírez Ramírez reveals the Spanish membership might be compelled to simply accept presents decrease than €20 million for the 23-year-old this summer time.
Ramírez contends Arsenal are “monitoring” Agoume’s state of affairs as they assess choices to interchange out-of-contract midfielder Thomas Partey. There was “no contact” between the Gunners and the participant, nonetheless.
The Crimson Devils want to leap the queue forward for the Frenchman of their home rivals because the membership’s price range will solely allow a less expensive midfield signing this summer time – and Agoume constitutes the perfect worth choice in the marketplace.
INEOS should act now, earlier than it’s too late.
Function picture Fran Santiago through Getty Photos
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