Man United directors board plane to sign extraordinary £69m ace, he will be their own Rice – opinion
Manchester United have yet to make any moves in the transfer window, but there are indications that they have something in the works at Old Trafford.
While most of the early window activity has revolved around the potential signing of Mason Mount, reports suggest that United are looking to spend even more money.
According to reports from Spain (via Football 365), French international Aurelien Tchouameni is being targeted by the club.
It has been suggested that Erik ten Hag has instructed United officials to travel to Spain and meet with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to finalize a deal.
Ten Hag views the midfielder as an excellent option, especially since Tchouameni is expected to leave Real Madrid following the arrival of Jude Bellingham.
However, Real Madrid is demanding no less than €80 million (£69 million) for the player.
In Europe’s top five leagues, who can Tchouameni be compared to?
For a while now, Tchouameni has been regarded as one of the most promising young midfielders in Europe, and his move to La Liga last summer was well-deserved.
After scoring an impressive goal against England in the World Cup, the 23-year-old has continued to rise in prominence, making 50 appearances for his club last season.
Although Tchouameni may not be known for his goal-scoring ability, his primary role is to control and disrupt play from the center of the pitch.
Considering this, it is not surprising that FBref believes Declan Rice, who is set to join Arsenal in a £105 million deal, is one of Tchouameni’s most similar players.
Ten Hag will need to explore other options as Rice was a target for United this summer. However, few alternatives are better than Tchouameni, a player who has been described as “extraordinary” by fellow countryman and former Manchester United star Paul Pogba.
Tchouameni and Rice have had a similar impact in the final third over the past year, with Tchouameni having an expected goals per 90 minutes of 0.08 compared to Rice’s 0.07. Additionally, Rice had 2.75 shot-creating actions compared to United’s 2.67.
Tchouameni tends to play more long passes, averaging 332.9 yards per 90 minutes compared to Rice’s 259.8, but their success rate for medium-distance passes is quite similar, with Tchouameni at 94.2% and Rice at 93.2%.
Both players exhibit similar creativity, with Rice averaging 1.02 key passes per 90 minutes compared to Tchouameni’s 0.94. The difference in passes into the final third is only 0.33.
Not only are both players comfortable in possession of the ball, but they are also adept at doing defensive work. Tchouameni averages 2.72 tackles per 90 minutes, while Rice trails slightly with 2.17.
These two players have a lot in common, whether it’s their ability to create chances or their defensive contributions. Rice has already proven himself in the Premier League, so Tchouameni should have no trouble settling in as his positional rival.
Casemiro’s successful transition since making a similar switch is evidence that Tchouameni can adapt quickly and thrive. Alongside Mason Mount, Tchouameni would be a fantastic signing for Ten Hag and his team.