Manchester United could have secured a last-gasp 2-1 win over Rangers in midweek, however that much-need victory – which has additional bolstered their hopes of Europa League development – seems to have raised additional questions slightly than solutions surrounding the floundering Outdated Trafford facet.
Certainly, Ruben Amorim‘s squad choice little doubt had a number of onlookers scratching their heads, with Marcus Rashford nonetheless left to look at on from the stands, regardless of no indication that an exit will truly be secured over the subsequent week or so, whereas £86m flop, Antony, was chosen on the bench, even amid the Brazilian’s imminent loan move to Real Betis.
Maybe essentially the most intriguing name, nevertheless, was the Portuguese’s choice at hand Alejandro Garnacho a beginning berth for the third time within the final 4 video games, with the Argentine thrust into the assault even regardless of rampant hypothesis relating to a potential bid from rivals Chelsea.
Whether or not it was merely a tactic to assist bolster the 20-year-old’s price ticket, or an announcement of Amorim’s backing of the participant, Garnacho definitely supplied a reminder of his qualities, going near getting on the scoresheet on a handful of events, having appeared United’s most threatening outlet in assault.
The thought then that the previous Atletico Madrid man might be offered within the coming days to adjust to PSR rules is a troubling one so far as Pink Devils followers are involved, with it laborious to see the knowledge in weakening an already threadbare ahead line – until an appropriate alternative is required…
Man Utd’s seek for a ahead
Amid the hypothesis surrounding Garnacho’s potential swap to Stamford Bridge, Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed {that a} swap deal might be on the playing cards ought to that deal go forward, with talks having been held relating to a transfer for Christopher Nkunku.
The suggestion from Plettenberg is that the 2 golf equipment have been in “direct contact” relating to that doable change, with Nkunku probably up for grabs amid his restricted recreation time in west London, having began simply three Premier League video games this season.
With rumours of the Frenchman making a transfer to Bayern Munich having gone comparatively quiet of late, Plettenberg claims that the possibility is there for United and INEOS to pounce, earlier than the February deadline is at an finish.
How Nkunku compares to Rashford and Garnacho
Discuss of a January swap deal involving one other top-flight rival could evoke worrying reminiscences of the notorious Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan winter commerce again in 2018, but the hope can be that the acquisition of Nkunku would show way more fruitful.
It should be mentioned off the bat that the 27-year-old has not loved a very spectacular time of it within the Premier League to date, having been restricted to only 30 league appearances since arriving from RB Leipzig in the summertime of 2023, with simply 5 of these outings coming from the beginning.
That mentioned, the one-time Paris Saint-Germain starlet has nonetheless scored 5 occasions amid that restricted involvement, whereas he has additionally taken his likelihood throughout a wide range of cup appearances, having chalked up 20 goals and assists in simply 43 video games for the Blues.
The difficulty that the attacking “monster” – as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig – has present in his present house is the lack to nail down a particular position, having usually been deployed as a centre-forward, even despite Enzo Maresca’s admission that his finest place is as “a No.10 behind the striker, between the traces”.
Unable to usurp Cole Palmer from that playmaking berth, Nkunku may discover a dwelling in one of many two roles behind the centre-forward in Amorim’s system, having performed that place beforehand throughout his stint at Leipzig.
It was largely in that ‘second striker’ position that the £195k-per-week menace loved his finest season thus far again in 2021/22, after scoring 35 goals and registering 19 assists in all competitions – eclipsing Rashford’s best-ever return of 30 goals and nine assists in 2022/23.
In all, Nkunku scored 70 goals in just 172 games throughout his time with the Bundesliga outfit, whereas he has truly scored extra objectives than any United player this season, together with Garnacho (eight) and Rashford (seven), with 13 to his name in all competitions.
|
Nkunku vs Rashford vs Garnacho – 23/24 & 24/25 (PL) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stat (per 90) |
Nkunku |
Rashford |
Garnacho |
|
Targets |
0.53 |
0.30 |
0.24 |
|
Assists |
0.11 |
0.08 |
0.12 |
|
Targets & Assists |
0.64 |
0.39 |
0.36 |
|
Progressive passes |
3.09 |
2.38 |
2.01 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.81 |
3.19 |
6.10 |
|
Go completion |
88.7% |
74.8% |
76.1% |
|
Shot-creating actions |
3.40 |
3.21 |
3.80 |
|
Tackles |
0.85 |
0.72 |
0.90 |
|
Interceptions |
0.64 |
0.22 |
0.61 |
Equally, as indicated above, Nkunku additionally comes out on prime forward of his United counterparts throughout the final 18 months or so with regard to quite a few key metrics, together with objectives per 90, objectives and assists per 90, progressive passes per 90 and go completion, indicating the standard he may present if given a constant run of video games.
A go is taken into account progressive if the gap between the start line and the subsequent contact is not less than 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s objective or any accomplished go into the penalty space.
After all, few would want to see Garnacho, specifically, proven the door earlier than the window slams shut, but that blow can be greater than softened if INEOS had been to accumulate an improve on the younger winger – and Rashford – with the signing of Nkunku.
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