Manchester United head into the festive period full of little cheer or joy. The Red Devils now sit eighth in the league table after a hugely disappointing start to the campaign.

Erik ten Hag's side are no longer in Europe and have won just one of their last seven matches in all competitions.

If the Dutchman wasn't already feeling the pressure then he certainly will after Saturday's 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

Man Utd's replacement for Erik ten Hag could be "blindingly obvious"

This “blindingly obvious” replacement for Erik ten Hag could finally be the right man to take Manchester United forward.

By
Adam Scully

Nov 14, 2023

The clock is surely quickly ticking on his time at Old Trafford but fortunately, the January transfer window has arrived at just the right time. A productive month in the market could well save United's season and indeed his job.

Man United transfer news – A midfield hunt on the way

When it comes to improving the Man United squad in January, Ten Hag should be looking to reshape most areas of his team. However, he could certainly do with some more solidity in midfield.

A move for budding Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram has been linked with the Red Devils aiming to add a bit more bite to the centre of the pitch alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Co. However, if they want to make a statement then acquiring one of the best young prospects in Europe would surely go down well.

The latest on their pursuit of 18-year-old Arthur Vermeeren came a few weeks ago with reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, suggesting that Liverpool, Man United and Barcelona were battling to secure the teenager's signature from Royal Antwerp.

Any move could well be a bargain one with Vermeeren expected to earn his side around €25m (£22m) from his prospective sale in 2024.

How Arthur Vermeeren compares to Kobbie Mainoo

Ten Hag is already blessed with one of the finest young midfielders in the Premier League in Mainoo.

The teenager burst onto the scene at Goodison Park a few weeks ago as he earned his maiden Premier League start at Goodison Park. He "put on a masterclass" in the words of reporter Liam Canning, even outshining that memorable goal from Alejandro Garnacho.

Mainoo's game vs Everton
Minutes played	72
Pass success	34/41 (83%)
Touches	57
Dribble success	2/3 (67%)
Accurate long balls	2/4
Tackles won	100%
Interceptions	2
Recoveries	3
Duels won	5
Stats via Fotmob.

However, in Vermeeren, United could arguably land a bigger and brighter talent than their current academy darling.

Why? Well, for starters, Vermeeren already has a full season of Belgium Pro League football under his belt. You may well argue that the standard isn't particularly high but let us remind you this is the league where the likes of Youri Tielemans, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne learnt their trades as young footballers.

A midfielder, the teen has been cooking up a storm in his homeland over the last 18 months, notably being described as "one of the most complete young midfielders in Europe" by scout Jacek Kulig. Fine praise indeed for a youngster who's also been noted as the 'next Andres Iniesta' in some quarters.

But how do Mainoo and Vermeeren compare? Well, they're both adept technically and possess a high amount of discipline and maturity in the centre of the park. That latter quality is hard to sum up using statistics but the rest of their respective games can be quantified nicely.

Vermeeren vs Mainoo: 2023/24 League Seasons
Stat (per 90)	Vermeeren	Mainoo
Progressive Carries	1.06	1.11
Progressive Passes	7.34	2.50
Expected Goals (xG)	0.08	0.01
Pass Success Rate	85.5%	87%
Key Passes	1.17	0.28
Passes into final 3rd	5.11	2.78
Shot-creating Actions	2.29	1.11
Tackles Won	1.22	1.39
Tackles & Interceptions	3.09	3.33
Touches	62.7	57.2
Stats via FBRef.

As you can see, while Mainoo is more proficient defensively, it's Vermeeren who's more likely to get on the ball and make things happen. He's truly exciting, making a remarkably high level of progressive passes per 90 minutes in comparison, supplying more balls into the final third and boasting a higher number of shot-creating actions – moments that directly lead to a shot on goal.

You may well argue that United need more high-quality experience in their team but as Mainoo has shown, if you're good enough, it doesn't matter how old you are. The thought of pairing these two players together is a mouthwatering one.

The 2023/24 Premier League season has been something of a disaster for Chelsea, as with just over half of the campaign gone, the Blues find themselves in ninth and nine points off the Champions League places, although fourth-place Arsenal have a game in hand.

Mauricio Pochettino has been unable to create a cohesive unit out of the mass influx of players he was handed in the summer, and with FFP reportedly a concern for the club, they could be about to sell fan favourite Conor Gallagher to balance the books.

While this move could open the ownership up to more disdain from the fans, it could also free up the funds for the latest player touted for a move to Stamford Bridge – a player that could easily replace Gallagher.

Chelsea show interest in former youth player turned superstar

According to TEAMtalk, Chelsea are among several Premier League clubs interested in signing Bayern Munich's outstanding young talent, Jamal Musiala.

The report revealed this information after transfers expert Fabrizio Romano (via Caught Offside) confirmed that Bayern and Musiala are yet to come to an agreement regarding a new deal, as the youngster's current contract is set to expire in 2026.

Two significant obstacles will make this a tough deal to complete for the Pensioners. First is the reported interest of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal; the other obstacle is the price. TEAMtalk reports that Bayern value the former Chelsea youth product at around €100m, which is about £87m.

While it will undoubtedly be difficult for Todd Boehly and Co to get this transfer over the line, the sale of Gallagher could help financially.

How Jamal Musiala compares to Conor Gallagher

Now, if Chelsea do end up selling Gallagher this month, fans would have every right to question the ownership as, after all, the 23-year-old has been one of the few players at the club who can hold his head high this season, and he has been given the captains armband in Reece James' absence due to this.

However, if the club can use his sale to land a player like Musiala, it would look like a stroke of genius by the board, even if some fans might still be justifiably upset over losing a player who pundit Jamie Carragher described as the club's "best player this season", alongside Cole Palmer.

It seems as if Pochettino would be on board with this plan, though, as during the 2022 World Cup, he described the young German as "one of the best young players in the world" and "a massive talent."

That said, how do the pair stack up to one another when looking at their underlying numbers?

Well, for everything Gallagher has done this year, he finds himself comfortably beaten by the Bayern star – who has seven goals and three assists this season – in practically every relevant metric, bar progressive passes per 90, where he just edges it.

Stats per 90

Musiala

Gallagher

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.64

0.23

Non-Penalty Goals

0.61

0.00

Assists

0.24

0.21

Progressive Passes

5.24

5.78

Progressive Carries

4.63

1.93

Shots on Target

0.98

0.48

Shot-Creating Actions

5.51

3.31

Goal-Creating Actions

1.10

0.37

Successful Take-Ons

3.90

1.07

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

In contrast, the German "genius", as described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, produces a more impressive non-penalty expected goals and assist figure per 90; he is far more of a goal threat, he completes significantly more progressive carries per 90, and he is a far more accomplished dribbler than the Englishman as well.

Chelsea could forget about Gallagher by signing £60m "monster"

Chelsea are keen on potentially making a move for a Premier league midfielder

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 14, 2024

Ultimately, Gallagher has been a reliable and important performer for Chelsea this season amid a rapidly changing team, but if selling him is the best way to sign a player the calibre of Musiala, then the club must make the tough decision.

Stiaan van Zyl scored an unbeaten century to guide Sussex to their first Specsavers Championship Division Two victory of the season, defeating Durham by six wickets at Emirates Riverside. Beginning the final day on 144 for 3, the visitors still had a challenge to score the 68 runs that would carry them over the line on a gloomy morning. Van Zyl continued his brilliant knock, defying the hosts with a resilient performance before upping the ante.Laurie Evans did offer a chance in the morning session when he drilled a Chris Rushworth delivery straight to Jack Burnham at cover. A wicket could have exposed Sussex’s batting line-up to a nervy chase, but Burnham failed to grasp the opportunity – epitomising his side’s performance over the course of the match.Evans made the most of his second life, reaching his fifty from 104 deliveries. Van Zyl then reached three figures with a nudge down to fine leg. Matt Salisbury removed Evans for 51, but Ben Brown knocked the next ball for the winning run to guide Sussex over the line, capping a resilient performance on the road from his side.”To get a hundred in the last innings on the last day, I’m very proud of it,” van Zyl said. “It’s a great win for us. The Leicestershire game was disappointing. We let ourselves down there. That’s why this win means a lot to us, just to get that first win of the season.”Durham will be frustrated by the manner of their defeat, failing to capitalise on advantageous positions in the match. They reduced the visitors to 71 for 7 in their first innings following fine bowling from James Weighell and Rushworth. However, Luke Wells, who played the innings of the match with an unbeaten 98, managed to grind out 131 runs for the final three wickets, bringing Sussex within 22 runs of Durham’s first-innings total.”That was an unbelievable innings,” van Zyl said of Wells’s knock. “We knew if we got a partnership going this morning to get the runs to win below fifty we would see the body language in the field go down, then we could capitalise. The wicket was okay when the ball was softer. You just had to hang in there and get the runs.”After losing quick wickets on the morning of day three, Durham appeared to be steady with Gareth Harte and Ned Eckersley at the crease. However, after scoring back-to-back boundaries, Eckersley smashed a delivery from medium-pacer Tom Haines straight at Evans.The wicket sparked a collapse as Liam Trevaskis and Ben Raine fell within the space of three deliveries. Although Harte combined with the Durham lower order, the target of 212 set for the visitors was always going to be vulnerable to one significant partnership.After losing Phil Salt and Haines, Wells and Van Zyl combined with a stand of 83 to see off the threat of the new ball and make significant inroads into the required total. Salisbury did give Durham brief hope when he dismissed Wells for 41, but van Zyl and Evans saw their way to the close and proceeded to whittle down the target on day four.Durham were almost handed a lifeline only for Burnham to put down a simple chance. Sussex picked their moments to find the boundary and displayed the composure out in the middle. Van Zyl was the foundation of their success, reaching his first Championship century of the term from 149 deliveries.Durham Lead High Performance Coach James Franklin branded his team’s two defeats from as many County matches in 2019 as not good enough.”We’ve had our chances there’s no two ways about it,” Franklin said. “The game against Derbyshire we had them five down in the first session, and here we had Sussex 70-7. To end up on the losing side in both of those games is disappointing. The guys are hurting about that.”We’ve had batting collapses as well, which is not great fun either. We’ve got plenty of scope to improve. It has been evident in our four innings this season that when we lose one, we can lose two or three quite quickly. Whether or not that is a little bit of reminiscence of what has been happening the last couple of years and we’re suffering a hangover of that, I’m not too sure. What we can do now is reflect on how we want to go about our Championship cricket.”We’ve got a nice break now into our one-day cricket. We’ve got a whole campaign there to quickly get our minds focused on in the next couple of days. When we get back to Championship cricket in May, we’ve got to be very clear on what we’re about because these first two games aren’t good enough.”

United States women’s national team star Lindsey Horan is confident Lyon will not go away despite defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

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Lyon beaten by Barca in Champions League finalSome question Lyon's chance of future successUSWNT star Horan confident they'll be backWHAT HAPPENED?

The Catalans emerged 2-0 winners in Bilbao on Saturday to win back-to-back titles, their third overall and complete an historic quadruple, the first for the women's team. It was a disappointment for Lyon, the eight-time European champions, who have been the dominant force for large spells since winning their first crown in 2011.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Barca's rise has prompted many to ponder whether Lyon's time at the top is over and if the Spanish champions can now become the new team to beat. It's talk that the French giants squashed in the 2022 final, when they beat Barca 3-1, and it is talk that Horan was again keen to dismiss this year, even if the result was in their opponents' favour this time.

WHAT HORAN SAID

"Barca is consistently at the top. It's a lot of credit to what they're doing and how they're playing. But we've been there," she told reporters. "I haven't been a part of this team for that long but they've been at the top of Champions League podiums for years. I'm just proud of us. We'll be back. We go back, we work hard, and hopefully next year we'll be back here."

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DID YOU KNOW?

One of the many reasons for Lyon to be optimistic about what the future holds is Michele Kang, who became the new majority owner in the team last summer and is keen to ensure the club remains one of the best in the world.

"I don't think anything really changes in us," Horan said of Kang's arrival. "I think it's more like we're going to invest more in this club. It's one of the best teams in the world, so we deserve more. Some of the things you see, maybe Barca and all these other clubs, are getting, facilities and investment, I think that's what Michele sees in us.

"Just because we've been at the top and we've won this many trophies, that doesn't mean everything's perfect. I think she sees a lot in us, she sees something special, and she wants to continue to make it grow and continue to make us shine and be at the top of our game. It's incredible what she's doing. Hopefully we can continue doing that."

She will officiate the final of WCL Division 2 between Namibia and Oman, continuing her leading role for female umpires

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Apr-2019

Claire Polosak during the 2018 World T20•Getty Images

Australia’s Claire Polosak will make history on Saturday as she becomes the first female umpire to stand in a men’s ODI when she officiates in the final of the World Cricket League Division 2 between Namibia and Oman.It is far from the first time Polosak has led the way for female umpires. She was the first woman to stand in an Australian men’s domestic fixture in 2017 during the JLT Cup. Then last December she and colleague Eloise Sheridan became the first female umpires to officiate on-field together during a professional match in Australia when Adelaide Strikers faced Melbourne Stars in the WBBL.”I am thrilled to be the first woman to stand in a men’s ODI and how far I have come as an umpire,” Polosak said. “It really is important to promote women umpires and there’s no reason why females can’t umpire in cricket. It’s about breaking down barriers, creating awareness so more females can come into the role.””Umpiring is a team effort. I would like to thank all the umpires I have worked with, my local umpires association – NSW Cricket Umpires’ and Scorers’ Association and Cricket Australia, as well as my family and friends, as without their support, this match today would not be possible.”Adrian Griffith, the ICC senior manager of umpires and referees, said: “Congratulations to Claire for this fantastic achievement of becoming the first woman umpire to stand in a men’s one-day international. It is one thoroughly deserved and a result of her hard work and perseverance. She is a role model for women who want to get into officiating and proves how successful they can be once they are on the right path and get the opportunities.”Polosak has previously stood in 15 women’s ODIs since 2016 and also umpired the semi-final of last year’s World T20 between England and India.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be preparing an offer to sign a new in-demand midfielder in 2024, according to a report.

Arthur Vermeeren to Spurs transfer update

Overall, Ange Postecoglou’s side have made a solid start to the Premier League season, averaging two points a game after 18 fixtures. Spurs still have two more games to play before 2024, with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion and a home clash with Bournemouth on the agenda.

However, the club, and by extension chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange, already have their eye on potential new signings in 2024, with Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren on their list of targets.

Ange gifted Spurs injury boost with star now in line to face Brighton

There’s been some good news out of N17.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 26, 2023

Those in north London made an approach for the 18-year-old back in October, and by the looks of things, they are now ready to step up their interest in the player who has been described as a budding “superstar” by 90min's Graeme Bailey.

According to The Sun in the last 48 hours, Spurs are lining up a £25m swoop to sign Vermeeren in a similar deal to the one that saw Destiny Udogie arrive from Udinese. The full-back was secured 18 months ago before being loaned back to the Serie A side, so it looks as if an identical move could be made.

The report adds that Tottenham feel they have the edge over rivals Arsenal and are at the front of the queue to sign Vermeeren, with the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona also keen.

Arthur Vermeeren profiled

Vermeeren has enjoyed a phenomenal 2023, seeing his Transfermarkt valuation rise from just €500,000 to a career-high €30m in the space of just over 12 months. The Belgian is primarily a central midfielder but can also play in a holding role and is already a senior international for his country.

The 18-year-old has progressed through the Antwerp academy and has gone on to make 65 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring three goals and registering eight assists. (Arthur Vermeeren stats – Transfermarkt)

He has been playing alongside former Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld, helping the club win a first Pro League title in 66 years last season, and the ex-Tottenham man has heaped praise on the youngster, saying:

"Do I sometimes watch with my mouth open? Certainly. Everyone knows perfectly what to do when in possession of the ball and when losing the ball. Then the qualities of such a boy come to the fore. What he shows at his age is fantastic. I have rarely seen that."

"You often see players who have been told from a young age that you have to pay attention to them. That is actually not the case with him. He came into the team due to circumstances and now he learns very quickly. He reads everything very well. His potential is enormous."

It looks as if a move for Vermeeren is one to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks, and in the long run, a move could be seen as a major coup if he continues his rapid progress in England.

Soumya’s record double-century in the Dhaka Premier League will give the batsman confidence ahead of the World Cup, says Tamim

Mohammad Isam in Dhaka24-Apr-2019Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das, both talked up as among the most talented top-order batsmen in Bangladesh, have been frustratingly inconsistent in their international careers so far. With the World Cup coming up, Tamim Iqbal, the senior opening batsman, is hoping the two youngsters grab their chances as best as they can, first in the tri-series in Ireland and then at the showpiece event.The only time Liton has really shown his ability was at last year’s Asia Cup final, in which he dominated India’s bowling to make 121 as Bangladesh went down off the last ball. Soumya made a sound start in 2015 but has had to mostly fight for his place in the ODI team since 2016. Earlier this year, he made a maiden Test hundred, against New Zealand in Hamilton, and yesterday, he became the first Bangladeshi to score a List A double-hundred.Tamim said that a score like the unbeaten 208, which came in a crucial Dhaka Premier League game for Abahani Limited on Tuesday, was bound to give Soumya confidence ahead of the bigger challenges. The batsman was having an ordinary time in the league, having scored just 197 runs in 11 innings, but hit 106 and then the record double-ton in Abahani’s last two matches.

Liton and Soumya have enough chances, and I am sure this is the right time to show the world how good they areTAMIM IQBAL

“It is a great achievement to become the first Bangladeshi to score a (List A) double-hundred,” Tamim said on Wednesday. “Although we will play in completely different conditions and against vastly different bowling attacks (when on tour), scoring runs is still a positive. It will give him confidence, regardless of where he has scored these runs. If he had made 10 and 5 in his last two innings, it would have left a percentage of doubt in his mind.”But now he knows he has scored the runs, and how he has done it. When you are in bad form, you forget how to score runs. Therefore, it is very positive for him that he has two big knocks before going to Ireland.”Since the 2015 World Cup, Tamim has had five different opening partners in ODIs: Soumya, Liton, Imrul Kayes, Anamul Haque and Mohammad Mithun. When Tamim was out with injuries occasionally in the last two years, Bangladesh used five different opening pairs. There is currently no word on who should open with Tamim in a best-case scenario, but it will be one of Soumya and Liton, the only other openers in the World Cup squad.Liton Das goes downtown•Getty ImagesBut while Soumya has shown that he has some form on his side, Liton followed up his poor New Zealand tour with only two fifties in eight DPL outings for Mohammedan Sporting Club. Tamim, however, felt that both batsmen could fulfil their potential in the coming months.”A regular opening partnership means that the two know each other’s game quite well,” he said. “For example, if I am hitting the fielder, he needs to take that extra chance. I can do the same if the other batsman is struggling.”But if somebody is not settled at the crease or in the team, it’s very unfair to go and tell him, ‘brother, now you take the risks’. But I am confident that Liton and Soumya have enough chances, and I am sure this is the right time to show the world how good they are.”Tamim agreed that Bangladesh were still waiting to identify their ideal opening pair, which every successful cricket team must possess.”It happens in every profession where your colleague of 20 years, for example, will know how you operate, and what you like and dislike. There was always understanding between some of the best opening pairs in the world like Hayden-Gilchrist, Ganguly-Tendulkar or Sehwag-Tendulkar,” Tamim said. “If you look back at those games, they seem to be having fun in the middle and they each knew what the other wants.”We haven’t had that opportunity yet but those two who have been picked in the World Cup squad, I am sure they can represent Bangladesh for the next 10-15 years. I feel this is the best time for them to perform.”

In short, Manchester United have massively underperformed this campaign.

Erik ten Hag’s side are eighth in the Premier League, with only Burnley and Sheffield United scoring fewer goals. That's despite the addition of Rasmus Hojlund, a man brought to the club for a whopping fee of £72m.

With that in mind, the Red Devils must simply look to bolster their attack in the January transfer window, with a centre forward on their wish list.

Man Utd transfers latest – The battle for a centre forward

According to Football Transfers, Man United are set to battle Aston Villa for the signature of Jonathan David during the January market.

The Lille forward is looking to make the next step in his career, and a move to the Premier League is on his bucket list.

However, the move would be permanent, which could price United out of a move this winter if departures don’t occur as a result of their financial fair play situation.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024 How Jonathan David compares to Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial’s Man United career has seen quality amongst numerous injury setbacks, which have ultimately prevented him from becoming a key player for prolonged periods.

Last season, the France forward missed 27 matches due to five different injuries, and with his contract expiring this summer, Ten Hag may look to banish him this winter to raise some funds.

The money raised could be put aside for the potential transfer of David, who is a key player for Lille. The Canadian hasn’t been at his best this season, scoring five goals in 17 Ligue 1 appearances, but he has shown signs of improvement recently, scoring in three of his last five league matches.

Nonetheless, the table below shows David’s statistics from the last year across the top European leagues and how he compares to positional peers.

Goals

0.57

Top 18%

Assists

0.03

Bottom 89%

Shots total

2.41

Bottom 63%

Pass completion %

80.9%

Top 8%

Progressive passes received

8.35

Top 7%

Shot-creating actions

2.99

Top 22%

As you can see, the 23-year-old is an extremely technical centre forward who can thrive in any game state due to his ability with the ball at his feet. This would suit Ten Hag’s side as they often dominate the ball against lesser opposition but wait for counterattacks against better teams.

The Canadian can be used as a target man by playing the ball directly to him, as well as a modern striker who can run in behind, which would help United turn attack into defence quickly, using Andre Onana’s pinpoint long passes to their advantage. The forward would also retain the ball, ensuring that his side mantains control, as displayed via his high pass completion percentage.

However, most importantly, David knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. The striker is a proven goal scorer, and it was only last season that he netted 24 goals in 37 Ligue 1 matches. This type of reliable centre-forward has been missing this season at the Red Devils, with the young Hojlund only netting once in 15 Premier League games so far.

The former Gent ace would provide a different approach to the 20-year-old, who often plays on the fringe of the game, as shown by the fact that the United starlet ranks in the bottom 86% of strikers for passes attempted in the league.

United’s lack of goals has held them back this season, particularly considering Onana has the joint most clean sheets. David, therefore, would improve the attack immensely not just through his goals, but he would also take the pressure off Hojlund, who is visibly frustrated with his lack of output.

t’s clear that Ten Hag would be making a mistake by not attempting to sign “one of the best strikers in the world," as dubbed by media personality Tony Marinaro.

Although a significant transfer is off the table for Manchester United this January, they will still look to reinforce their squad before the end of deadline day.

Erik ten Hag's squad has been relatively thin all season due to injuries, yet that problem will only worsen with a few players on their way out.

Therefore, to avoid a repeat of the first half of the season, United will become active in the latter stage of the window.

Man United want to sign a centre-back

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Man United have inquired about a potential loan deal for Matthijs de Ligt.

The Dutch centre-back is estimated to be worth £43m as per CIES Football Observatory, but he could become a stop-gap signing this winter.

The fact that United are in a rebuilding period means that a loan seems to be the way forward, alongside their financial fair play restrictions.

De Ligt's record under Ten Hag

Games

70

Goals

8

Assists

5

Yellow cards

7

Red cards

0

Minutes played

6,198

Clean sheets

30

Stats via Transfermarkt.

How De Ligt would fit into the United starting XI

Injuries have been a problem across the entire team for the Red Devils this season, but their centre-backs have been particularly affected.

Every single central defender, bar Willy Kambwala, has picked up an injury this season, but luckily, Lisandro Martinez returned to the field against Spurs last time out.

The Argentine is hands-down United's first-choice left centre-back, with Ten Hag valuing his on-the-ball ability and proactivity. However, the boss has yet to find a perfect partner for the number six that he can rely on, which is why the loan move for De Ligt has come into the picture.

The 24-year-old defender was the rock and leader of Ten Hag's Ajax team that reached the semi-final of the 2018/19 Champions League campaign, which is why he's been described as a "generational talent" by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig. However, he has fallen out of favour at Bayern Munich and only played 14 games across all competitions.

Nonetheless, let's take a look at De Ligt's stats from the last year and how they compare to his positional peers from Europe's top five leagues.

De Ligt's Stats: Last 365 days

Stats (per 90)

De Ligt

Ranking in Europe

Passes completed

67.38

Top 8%

Pass completion %

91.2%

Top 8%

Progressive passes

5.46

Top 8%

Passes into final third

6.01

Top 5%

Touches

82.37

Top 13%

Aerials won

3.52

Top 6%

Stats via FBref

The biggest attribute of the former Juventus star is his ability to control a game via his technical qualities and vast passing range, which is also one of Martinez's biggest strengths, as highlighted by the fact he had the second most accurate passes per game for United last season.

As a pairing, they would assert so much dominance in possession, rarely losing it while also having the ability to feed those higher up the field. They would also bring the best out of Andre Onana's passing qualities while allowing Ten Hag to switch to his playing out-from-the-back philosophy.

Furthermore, De Ligt's pure power and athleticism allow him to be dominant in the air, which would help United become more dangerous from crosses while also making them less likely to concede from set pieces. This is particularly important when next to Martinez, who ranks in the bottom 2% for aerials won across the top European leagues, as per FBref.

Overall, De Ligt would make United a much more balanced team, and his composed approach would work perfectly alongside the aggressive Argentine. Even if it's just a loan, it could turn Ten Hag's season around.

Manchester United have reportedly had talks with Thomas Frank and Mauricio Pochettino's respective entourages as they mull over Erik ten Hag's future.

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• Ten Hag under pressure to keep Man Utd job
• United approach Pochettino and Frank
• Dutchman may be sacked despite FA Cup win

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Telegraph claims United manager Ten Hag is at 'serious risk' of being sacked, despite their FA Cup final win over Manchester City on Saturday. The report adds the Red Devils will conduct a thorough season review this week before Ten Hag's fate will be determined. After holding talks with the representatives of Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, United's team have met with the camps of Brentford manager Frank and Pochettino – who left Chelsea on Tuesday.

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• Getty/GOAL
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United's season has, somewhat, been saved by their FA Cup triumph – the second trophy of the Ten Hag era after last year's Carabao Cup success. However, they had their lowest-ever Premier League finish of eighth and suffered an ignominious Champions League group stage exit. The fact that they are still looking at alternatives to the former Ajax boss arguably shows how disappointed the club's board are with their 2023-24 campaign.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ten Hag said he "didn't know" if he would be kept on at United but insisted if he does leave he will "go somewhere else to win trophies, because that is what I do". The Dutchman also repeatedly stressed that the club's injury situation this season is a huge reason why they have underwhelmed this term.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Ten Hag, whose side finished third in the Premier League last season, reportedly headed off on his holidays on Sunday and now it is just a matter of time to see whether or not he keeps his job at Old Trafford.