After reaching an agreement to buy Mason Mount, Manchester United is eager to bring in more than one midfielder to Old Trafford this summer.
Understandably, the early discussions of the transfer window have been dominated by talk of Mount’s departure from Chelsea.
However, Erik ten Hag and company are working harder behind the scenes, and a move for Sofyan Amrabat is also on the table.
According to RAI Sport (via Football Italia), United is willing to treble the player’s income in an effort to entice him to play for England.
Nevertheless, they will have to fork out the €30 million (£26 million) asking sum that Fiorentina have put on his head.
What kind of play does Sofyan Amrabat make?
At the Winter World Cup in Qatar, the Moroccan was a standout performer as his country made an incredible run to the semifinals.
After being selected by readers as a member of Football FanCast’s Team of the Tournament, it may have surprised some that he wasn’t transferred during the winter, when clubs like Barcelona were reportedly interested.
A £26 million sum would be a steal for the 26-year-old player who is now a desirable option for United and who possesses some fantastic characteristics.
He put Declan Rice “to school” in the Europa Conference League final at the end of the campaign, albeit his club ultimately fell short 2-1.
Amrabat was the driving force behind all of the team’s positive actions during that game, which further served to support the idea that he is the quintessential big-game performer. He demonstrated this at the World Cup, as he led the team in tackles made with 2.3 per game.
That isn’t an area Amrabat often excels in when compared to other players in the same position throughout Europe’s top five leagues. In fact, according to FBref, the Fiorentina star is in the bottom 33% for that metric per 90 minutes.
What does he offer then? This player, who ranks in the top 5% for pass completion and the top 8% for progressive passes, is exceptionally cool-headed and has excellent vision.
He will sit back and direct the play like a conductor, similar to Andrea Pirlo. For medium pass success, he is in the top 2%, and for long pass success, he is in the top 1%.
Although the Moroccan is in the bottom 34% for shot-creating actions, he does enjoy charging past the defense. The Moroccan is rarely active in the final third. As a result, he ranks in the top 12% for carrying distance that increases over time and the top 18% for carrying distance overall.
He might make the ideal partner for Casemiro in the center of United’s side given this.
Since moving to English football, the brash Brazilian has been a revelation, ranking among the top 4% of midfielders in Europe for tackles, blocks, clearances, and aerials won.
He doesn’t maraud forward like Amrabat does, hence he ranks among the midfielders with the best 62% of carries and the poorest 29% of total carry distance.
This suggests that the two could make a wonderful pairing. In order to ensure that Ten Hag’s team is on the counterattack as soon as they regain possession of the ball, Casemiro could stand back and break up the play before sending it to Amrabat. Amrabat’s tremendous passing range and ability to carry the ball forward would make this possible.
This signing, dubbed a “monster” by Carlo Garganese, would be outstanding, especially given the cost. Imagine him and Casemiro together.
