Welcome to the 2024 edition of Shopping for Ten Hag, where we use analytical data to identify players the Manchester United manager could use to revamp his squad.
We looked into the Dutchman’s previous teams and strategies throughout the summer transfer windows of 2023 and 2022 to develop a framework for the kind of players he would be interested in.
Our goal is to pair Kobbie Mainoo with a defensive midfielder in this situation.
Smarterscout data, which provides a rating from zero to 99 based on how frequently or how effectively a player does a certain activity in comparison to others in their position, was used to analyze the players that were included.
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What sort of player is Mainoo and what does he need?
None of United’s midfielders looked excellent after the 2023–24 campaign. They defended deep and pressed high in an odd way that allowed far too much space in the middle for effective patrolling. Mainoo, a 19-year-old who plays with the maturity of someone in their mid-to late-twenties, emerged out among the turmoil. Mainoo is a player that teammates trust with the ball, whether it is in the middle, out wide, near his own penalty area, or near the opponent’s, knowing he will be able to guard it and provide others a platform.
Although Mainoo shows flashes of skill that indicate he might become one of the Premier League’s top all-around midfielders, his best position right now is press-resistance, box-to-box ball carrying. Will United be better off investing in a player who can provide Mainoo the time and space to become the best—and arguably most well-rounded— version of himself? Alternatively, do they purchase a player that fits Mainoo’s current skill set, let the youngster concentrate on those things, and roll with the punches?
Why are United looking at Manuel Ugarte?
Paris Saint-Germain defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte has been linked with United this summer.
What does his pizza chart tell us?
- Ugarte is an avid hunter. He is a defensive midfielder who recovers the ball from the opposition; his high ball recoveries and interceptions score attests to this. The energetic, proactive tackler from Uruguay would restore the counter-pressing intensity that United lost due to Casemiro’s injury last season.
- He can disrupt opposition plays with his strength, aggression, and application all over the pitch, but his attraction to the ball can cause him to get pulled out of position when defending in close proximity to his own goal.
- When Ugarte comes to the last third, he starts to bleed. The blue parts in his offensive numbers, which are below average, suggest that he is a defensive midfielder who is solely interested in defending. He is not a proficient or reliable shooter of the ball. Last season, he hardly ever carried the ball into the final third and made no attempt to acquire possession of it in the opponent’s penalty area.
- When it comes to air defense, he might be erratic. Ugarte is not the player you want to dominate the early aerial duels, even if he frequently leaps and competes for long balls and goal kicks. Rather, he would rather try to recover the second ball.
- He is a cautious passer who would sooner hold onto the ball than attempt to force an outcome. Because of this, he was a noticeable oddity in Luis Enrique’s possession-based philosophy at PSG the previous campaign. For the Champions League knockout stages, Luis Enrique benched him from PSG’s starting lineup in favor of Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz as a pivot in the middle of the field.
Ugarte’s ball victories might be useful if Ten Hag decides to stick with a man-to-man defensive configuration in 2024–2025. Ugarte might require assistance to stop being dribbled past if the United boss wishes to create anything more substantial.
Let’s talk about… Youssouf Fofana
Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana is on the radar of several clubs.
Here’s why…
- Fofana will try to recover the ball if he spots an opponent in possession of it before slamming a pass into the gap behind them. He is not quite as good as Ugarte as a defensive terrier, but he is still fairly good at both (observe the high ratings for ball recoveries and progressive passing). Similar to Mainoo, Fofana is eager to carry the ball higher up the field and create opportunities. This is another intriguing aspect about him.
- If those opportunities do not present themselves, Fofana is less likely to maintain the ball than Mainoo is. Like Bruno Fernandes, he has a tendency to “make things happen,” yet his overambition can often cause him to lose control. He can recover and try to get the ball back, but he performs best when paired with a player who is more focused on defense.
- The Frenchman is a good initiator of aggressive moves because of his tendency to get his team going. He can enter the penalty area late to attempt a goal, play “the pass before the pass,” or chip in with an occasional assist.
Behind Fernandes and Mainoo, Fofana is more effective as a box-to-box player than as a single-pivot midfielder. Although he is not the best match for Mainoo right now, his age and skill set will make him a valuable member of United’s team in the future.
Those are two obvious selections. Now let’s go off the beaten path…
Let’s look at… Anton Stach
German midfielder Anton Stach had a solid 2023-24 with Hoffenheim.
Here’s your bullet point cheat sheet:
- Stach is a competent tackler (91 out of 99 on ball recoveries), but he holds his ground and waits for the right opportunity to make a move. Although he does not commit as many turnovers as Ugarte does, he has less pressure to win the ball back frequently due to his steady defensive positioning.
- The 25-year-old’s habit of diving deep to retrieve the ball from Hoffenheim’s center backs before starting a team play is well-known to Bundesliga watchers. Stach can receive and distribute the ball with ease using either foot, which is helpful when he moves into the back line to allow a full-back to advance up the field.
- Not only does he have good ball carrying (carry & dribble volume), but he also does not overplay the ball as much as Fofana (see progressive passing score).
- Stach is an evaporator. With his height of 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm) and his average aerial skills, he could provide Mainoo with reliable protection from larger opponents. The German midfielder can run 20 to 30 yards in just a few sprints since he is a good ground-coverer.
In Stach’s play, you can see hints of Declan Rice or Nemanja Matic if you squint and bend your head slightly. He accomplishes the basic tasks required of a defensive midfielder, but he is not your first choice for a deep pass that advances the play.
Have you heard of… Morten Frendrup?
This 25-year-old midfielder is an excellent illustration of a player who, while on a mid-table squad, appears to be “average,” has the potential to rise further in the standings.
Frendrup’s standout traits:
- He blends match reading with physical athleticism. He can cover a lot of ground rapidly, much like Toby Collyer at United or Stach (see scores for ball recoveries and defensive energy).
- When Frendrup is not in possession, his head is continually turning. He is able to judge when to maintain his position and when to try to retake it by pushing upward.
- His press resistance is something that the pizza chart above makes difficult to see. When maneuvering through traffic, he may outmaneuver larger, more assertive defenders. His natural tendency is to carry it for a short distance or to make a side-stepping pass once he gets his head up.
- These attempts to move the ball forward can be erroneous. Although Frendrup can carry the ball well for five to ten yards, he is not as good as Mainoo at it. His link-up play in the middle third is excellent, but when he comes closer to the opposition’s goal, his passing may become unpredictable. That is partly because there are not many formidable attackers in Genoa. That is partly because Frendrup is the most unbalanced player on our shortlist. He will not try anything else if he can not make a sidefooted pass with his right foot.
- Despite his low offensive metrics, Frendrup is a fan of the cutback from the right and collected five assists in the previous campaign. Frendrup has a great offensive player inside of him who is only needing refinement.
Frendrup seemed to be “good enough” for a team that in 2023–24 lacked many players with standout qualities. His game has enough potential to indicate that he could go to a new level. He is the kind of player you could see Brighton acquiring (if they had not acquired Mats Wieffer, who would have been a great fit beside Mainoo).
If you’re looking for a cheaper option, how about… Daniel Boloca?
Daniel Boloca of Sassuolo is another midfielder from Serie A’s lower division who appears bright on the stat sheets and is a lot of fun to watch for an entire 90 minutes of play.
What you need to know:
- Boloca is the least “see ball, win ball” guy on our short list, but he can shut off dangerous passing options by positioning himself in the right spot at the right moment.
- It is entertaining to watch him dribble. Mainoo and Boloca are similar in that they are both “touch typists,” meaning they can move gracefully and sense open places without exerting too much effort.
- Because of Sassuolo’s shortcomings (they were demoted from Serie A the previous season), several of Boloca’s best passes were unable to find their intended recipients. As the season progressed, Boloca frequently assumed responsibility for moving the ball between the penalty areas to create opportunities.
Stretching out Marco Verratti to 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) gives you a decent indication of the kind of player Boloca might develop into in the future, despite his tendency to receive yellow cards (he was booked six times in 30 league games last season).
To reach his full potential, Boloca needs to relocate. A former member of the Juventus youth, he played his final non-Italian football match for Tatran Presov of Slovakia in 2017. The team that can persuade him to give up playing Italian football would have a real gem.
Where does this leave us?
Finding Mainoo a suitable midfield partner is a challenging objective. The academy graduate, who has demonstrated ability as a No. 6 defensive midfielder and a box-to-box operator, has stated he does not care where he is asked to play for United. Complicating matters is the requirement to use Fernandes as the No 10 in order to maximize the captain’s efficiency.
If there is not a standout, budget-friendly option this summer, United could be better off waiting for Mainoo’s skills to improve before adding a physically strong ball-winner. Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot, two full-backs, may be able to help with their progressive passing, and Collyer’s preseason performance provides Ten Hag one more option.
Although Mainoo is a difficult player to match, United has several choices that could benefit them in the upcoming seasons.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
