Five midfielders Man United could turn to instead of Frenkie de Jong

By Andrew Thompson


Revealed: June 24, 2022 7:00 am

Final Up to date: June 24, 2022 12:08 am

Manchester United has struggled this summer season to actually get the ball rolling underneath new tactician and former AFC Ajax supervisor Erik ten Hag after the gifted Dutchman referred to as time on a really spectacular stint with the Eredivisie giants.

United is recent off a really disappointing 2021-22 Premier League season after the Purple Devils slid down the desk and will solely muster a sixth-place end regardless of ending runner-up the season earlier than underneath the much-maligned Ole Gunnar Solskjær, with Ralf Rangnick hardly doing his one highly-touted repute any favors as United did not make good on their spectacular on-paper spending final summer season.

The membership actually has a variety of work to place behind the frustration that was final season after United splashed out roughly £120million on Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho, and Raphaël Varane, and their want to herald Dutch worldwide Frenkie de Jong to reunite the midfielder along with his former boss at Ajax has been met with optimism from the fanbase regardless of the relative failure of final summer season.

Ten Hag will begin pre-season coaching with #mufc on Monday with 0 new gamers in his squad.

— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) June 23, 2022

However United has struggled to get a deal over the road for the 25-year-old Barcelona man on the time of writing, their recent bid was rebuffed by the Catalan outfit, although they’re anticipated to return to ensure that Ten Hag to get his man within the door with time to spare.

Ought to Ten Hag fail to carry his man within the door at Previous Trafford for one motive or one other, United might effectively must survey different choices with which to strengthen a now skinny midfield after each Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matić left this summer season on free offers.

Listed here are 5 various midfield choices that Manchester United might contemplate instead of Frenkie de Jong

Youri Tielemans (Leicester Metropolis)

Lengthy linked with a attainable summer season transfer to Premier League rivals Arsenal, Belgian worldwide Youri Tielemans has made fairly a reputation for himself throughout a three-and-a-half-year spell on the King Energy Stadium the place he has molded himself into one of many premier central midfielders in England.

LEICESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 08: Youri Tielemans of Leicester Metropolis scores their crew’s first objective from the penalty spot in the course of the Emirates FA Cup Third Spherical match between Leicester Metropolis and Watford at The King Energy Stadium on January 08, 2022, in Leicester, England. (Picture by Michael Regan/Getty Photographs)

Blessed with a harmful proper foot each by way of his means to be artistic in an 8 function underneath Brendan Rodgers, and a critical objective menace from exterior the field, Tielemans bagged 6-goals and 4-assists for the Foxes final season within the Premier League that supplied loads of proof to recommend that he could have lastly outgrown the Foxes.

Jacob Ramsey (Aston Villa)

England youth worldwide Jacob Ramsey had a break-out season underneath Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa his previous season because the 21-year-old Birmingham-native rose to prominence at Villa Park and have become one of many first names on the teamsheet for the Villains after he made 34-appearances in 2021-22 whereas bagging 6-goals amid forming an excellent understanding with Philippe Coutinho after the arrival of the Brazilian worldwide.

A critical objective menace from the center of the park, what Ramsey lacks in creativity he makes up for with glorious spatial consciousness and power together play that was so typically evident for Villa within the closing third. He will not be the large identify United followers would need, however his potential speaks for itself.

Fabián Ruíz (SSC Napoli)

One other midfielder linked with Arsenal this summer season, Spanish worldwide Fabián Ruíz has quietly been one of many key catalysts at SSC Napoli during the last 4 seasons however is coming off a 2021-22 the place he hit a career-high for objectives in a season (7) whereas nonetheless remaining artistic all the identical.

2H7B40E Milan, Italy. 21 November 2021. Fabian Ruiz of SSC Napoli gestures in the course of the Serie A soccer match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli. Credit score: Nicolo Campo/Alamy Stay Information

Succesful at each ends of the pitch in being a key artistic outlet whereas additionally being extremely adept in a press, Ruíz might current a comparatively high-profile midfielder that might probably settle effectively underneath Ten Hag’s anticipated system at United that’s prone to mirror how Ajax operated underneath his command. With United at the moment missing a central choice that may constantly contribute at each ends of the pitch, Ruíz might match the invoice.

Khéphren Thuram (OGC Good)

A much more unknown choice to most followers in England, French youth worldwide Khéphren Thuram – son of legendary French defender Lillian Thuram – has risen to prominence at Ligue 1 outfit OGC Good within the final two years after coming by the youth ranks at AS Monaco, and his 36-appearances within the league final season reveals he’s trusted by supervisor Christophe Galtier whereas displaying himself able to contributing in an attacking body regardless of technically being a holding midfielder.

Thuram nonetheless chipped in with 4-goals and 3-assists in 2021-22, and although he’s additionally a succesful passer, his means to progress play whereas on the ball reveals he has a lot extra worth to a midfield than simply being a gifted ball-winner.

Mattéo Guendouzi (Olympique de Marseille)

Arsenal followers will hardly benefit from the considered former midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi making the listing, however the truth is that the French worldwide has exploded since discovering his footing at Olympique de Marseille previously two seasons and is now one of the vital coveted younger central gamers in France. Guendouzi was certainly one of Jorge Sampaoli’s most trusted gamers this previous season as OM completed two factors forward of Monaco for second place, incomes a return to the Champions League subsequent season.

Regardless of having the likes of Dmitri Payet forward of him additional up the pitch, Guendouzi has develop into an extremely progressive midfielder each along with his means to choose a go but in addition drive play when all of the ball; one thing Arsenal followers received a glimpse of however now OM has massively benefitted from as he has developed. He nonetheless struggles in sure defensive metrics, however Guendouzi actually deserves a spot right here.

How they stack up

Using FBRef to collate comparative information factors between all six midfielders in query, findings present that – regardless of contextualizing sure elements throughout all gamers concerned – that Frenkie de Jong might maybe be extra readily changed on the needed listing at Previous Trafford than some could have thought.

De Jong could also be a highly-coveted and unquestionably gifted midfielder, but it surely stands to notice that United might probably have a cadre of backup choices to show to ought to they someway fail to safe their prime switch goal this summer season.