Man United misses several midfielders in addition to Casemiro, and Erik ten Hag has few creative options to select from.
Brendan Rodgers was considered not only Manchester United manager material 18 months ago, but also the front-runner to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Rodgers’ time as manager of Leicester came to an end on Sunday. It sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇᴅ me how long it had taken. On deadline day in September, Rodgers was belittling the club’s summer transfer window and sounded as if he had reached his ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ point.
The Premier League’s relegation mire is so dangerous that club chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha didn’t take action until Leicester dropped to second from last on Saturday.
Under Rodgers, according to Srivaddhanaprabha, Leicester “had some of our finest footballing moments.” Naturally, they fired him despite the ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that he had led his team to back-to-back top-five finishes, a trip to the semifinals of the European Cup, and their first FA Cup victory. You are evaluated in football based on your current play, not your past performance.
The ꜰᴀᴄᴛ that Rodgers is one of the favorites to be hired by Tottenham—a team he turned down almost two years ago—speaks much about his influence. Daniel Levy would make that choice instead of Nuno Espirito Santo or Antonio Conte if he ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ to make sense.
The previous 18 months should not be used to evaluate Rodgers. The once-lauded best-run clubs in the nation, Leicester, have lost their Midas touch. Rodgers’ career and the club’s Premier League position may be at ʀɪsᴋ due to a couple of summers of terrible recruitment and subpar succession planning.
Last month, Leicester reported losses of £92.5 million, and chief executive Susan Whelan delivered more bad news, saying, “Profits from player trading and continued successful recruitment will continue to feature prominently in our strategy as we look to continue to compete with more established opponents.”
James Maddison won’t play for Leicester in the upcoming season because his contract expires in one year. Three years ago, Maddison was valued at £80 million amid interest from United; today, despite making his full England debut last month against Uᴋʀᴀɪɴᴇ, his value is almost half that amount.
Maddison, 26, grew up admiring David Beckham and supporting Manchester United. “Is there a better time for @ManUtd to represent the city tonight following the recent ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ news? Please, #MUFC “Before to the Europa League final in May 2017, Maddison tweeted about the senseless Manchester Arena ᴀssᴀᴜʟᴛ.
Childhood allegiances are insufficient justification for spending £40 million. In the present, Maddison has developed to such an extent that he has routinely led Leicester this season without Jonny Evans after being selected the team’s player of the year for 2021–22.
Maddison’s performance of nine goals and six assists is further evidence that he is deserving of a top-seven club. Prior to the ᴠɪʀᴜs spreading around Europe, Maddison was selected by United ahead of Donny van de Beek, who subsequently created the groundwork for a potential trade for Jack Grealish.
Van van Beek is not a viable replacement for Bruno Fernandes and United need a youthful, energetic creative option in the midfield. He started just four games before ɪɴᴊᴜʀʏ ended his season. They miss Casemiro dearly, but they also long for a ball-treasurer like Christian Eriksen.
Erik ten Hag is getting frustrated with Jadon Sancho, United have already planned loans for fellow wingers Facundo Pellistri and Anthony Elanga, and it’s not yet known whether Mason Greenwood will be reintegrated into the team or whether Amad will be promoted to the senior squad for the upcoming season.
Maddison has spent the majority of the season on the right and is a better option for United there than Antony. It makes sense to get a versatile English international who United has been following for years and whose price won’t break the bank.
Ten Hag is also eager to hire local talent. Ten Hag stated in July, “I would like to sign English players because I think there is just one requirement, and that is quality combined with price. “English players appear to be fairly pricey. You cannot ᴀʀɢᴜᴇ with the reality. In the end, quality is what matters.”
Madison ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴs a United ᴘʀᴏsᴘᴇᴄᴛ.
