Seems like he's gonna be our first signing.
Manuel Akanji
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) and Jamie (@Vault Dweller) are here to talk about United's dreadful home defeat at the hands of Big Ange's Tottenham Hotspur. Should this have been the end of Ten Hag? How long does he actually have left? And does Nik finally want ETH out?!
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I don’t know too much about this fella. What’s his style?
From what I have seen, he is tough, and quick. Good in the air. Not the best footballer but probably on a par with Maguire.
Dont think he is good enough. Split opinions, as some really rate him and others dont. I dont and he has been part of a leaky defense under different managers for years.
was highly rated at Basel, but he hasn’t really convinced me at Dortmund. Very inconsistent. It is a no for me, not better than what we have.
was highly rated at Basel, but he hasn’t really convinced me at Dortmund. Very inconsistent. It is a no for me, not better than what we have.
With Jones and possibly Bailly leaving it makes sense.
He looks very comfortable with both his left and right foot
Every time I watch Dortmund they leak about 50 goals.
Why do we need him anyway? We have 3 starting CBs and loads of options as backups.
Use the money on a DM and some better attackers. We seem to buy a new CB every other year and it doesn't improve anything, because a CB won't do you much good if the 6 players on front of him aren't good enough.
Why do we need him anyway? We have 3 starting CBs and loads of options as backups.
Use the money on a DM and some better attackers. We seem to buy a new CB every other year and it doesn't improve anything, because a CB won't do you much good if the 6 players on front of him aren't good enough.
You'd assume a squad replacement for Bailly and Jones.
Style is similar to Varane. An all round CB without anything that can be seen as a flaw.
We need DM, CM, CF, RW, RB... and we are looking into buying yet another CB? Why though? Even if two of Maguire, Lindelof, Varane get injured we can still rely on Mengi for a while.
Our budget for the summer will be stretched thin as it is. Yet another head-scratcher by this club.
Our budget for the summer will be stretched thin as it is. Yet another head-scratcher by this club.
I suppose it makes sense with Bailly, Jones and possibly Axel all going to be shipped off
Watch Dortmund and you'll be horrified.
We're probably just being used in contract negotiations as per usual.
We're probably just being used in contract negotiations as per usual.
Isn’t he… not that good?
Id doubt we are bringing in new / experienced players just to replace our deadwoods when they have hardly featured.
He's utter shite. 30m? Oh god we're such fools.
Not even sure whether he's ready for PL lower mid table team. Even currently a starter for Birmingham, it's not like he's the best CB in Championship. To rely on a kid that lack so much experience is a big statement to make.
As is Maguire is not certain starter if we commit to a high line , high pressing front foot football. He doesn't have pace. Lindelof is tactical better, but he's also slow and weak physically.
That's crazy wages? Why do we keep doing this!
@Mickson approved edit : That's crazy wages? We'd be crazy to do this!
@Mickson approved edit : That's crazy wages? We'd be crazy to do this!
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You are right, Mengi isn't ready by any stretch of the imagination, but I think he can be used to patch things together in case of an injury crisis. Who knows, maybe he will come into his own by trial of fire? And what's the chance both CBs are out for a long time anyway?
We definitely could do with better in that position, but currently there are other positions in critical condition, and spending 30M on a CB seems... unwise. Also, I haven't watched Dortmund in sometime, but people hardly seem impressed with the guy?
He's also more comfortable than Lindelof and Maguire at defending a large space due to his physical and athletic capabilities, which would potentially help us apply high pressure in a compact high block.
He did go through a period where he suffered a loss of form but according to what I've read, he's comeback well. And with the money wasted on the previous CBs, it's important we have two potential starting CBs who can defend in a high-line, and Akanji for £20m would help us create the conditions to approach games with more risk.
You'd absolutely hate him. He's weak in aerial duels and his best attribute is his passing.
Is he also a physically imposing defender in the mould of Van Dijk and Rudiger?
If so this potential signing will certainly get my vote.
He usually isn't that bad, but actually their best defender. Not saying he is worldclass, but he isn't horrible either.
Knowing our luck with defensive injury crisis, the chance of missing 2 CBs at the same time is very high.
It's becoming a critical position too. Only behind a defensive midfielder. With CF, If we can't purchase anyone,then just use Martial as rotation option after his loan end. We're down to barebone with our CBs at this rate. Jones and Bailly are not reliable fitness wise, and at least one of them likely to leave. Maguire and Lindelof in a long run would not be ideal for defensive high line.
This guy may not be ready made world class, but he's individually quite decent all round, and fit the profile for defensive high line. Arguably still have room for improvement until CB peak age.
The quoted fee is speculation at this point. After this season, he's only 1 year left on his contract and currently refusing to extend. Dortmund also just signed Sule for next season, so the fee is likely negotiable. Dortmund doesn't want thing to drag over to January 2023 where he can sign pre contract with foreign clubs.
He's not Van Dijk but he's physically and athletically very capable. For £20m he'd be a good signing imo, and can pass the ball well with either foot.
I would assume that salary is meant over the 4 years and not per year
15m salary would be per year, Dortmund are already bidding almost 10m.
Like others have said, you'd expect we're offloading Bailly and Jones in summer.
Then yes that is waaayyyyyy too much jesus
For 20m he sounds like a good investment particularly when we have other areas to address, hopefully we will bring in 4 additional players for DM, CM, ST and RW.
I think when evaluating players in the game today, it's important we look how they perform in defensive transitions. It's something I never used to do before and would only focus on what the player does in possession.
I also agree with the positions you've mentioned that need filling/upgrading.
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Has he been linked with Ajax or PSG in the past year or so? Maybe it’ll be give a hint as to who might be the next manager 
€200k a week? Surely not.
Certainly - this current Utd team is so easily bypassed, until this area is addressed we will always find it difficult to impose our style of play and to me this will be our core foundation of success and hopefully it starts from this summer when Ralf will have had enough time to fully assess the squad and his potential consultancy role will have a strong input in this regard.
Eugh no
Completely agree mate.
It's like Hassenhuttl said a few weeks ago, 'we know their problem is running back in defensive transition' (not verbatim). The EPL is a very tough league right now and playing at high intensity and covering ground quickly in defensive transition is a big advantage. Having immobile players in the deeper areas of the pitch will invite the opposition to target those players.
People lose their shit over every link - relax, not everything you read is true.
He ain't that bad from the below stats, which compare him to our others CBs. You'll be pleased to know he's better than Lindelof and Bailly in that regard.
Successful tackles per 90 minutes (success rate)
Raphael Varane – 1.8 (75%)
Manuel Akanji – 1.5 (93.8%)
Harry Maguire – 1 (66.7%)
Victor Lindelof – 0.9 (90%)
Successful aerial duels per 90 minutes (success rate)
Harry Maguire – 2.8 (68.3%)
Raphael Varane – 2.7 (69.2%)
Manuel Akanji – 2.3 (62.2%)
Victor Lindelof – 2.1 (58.3%)
Interceptions per 90 minutes
Manuel Akanji – 1.8
Victor Lindelof – 0.9
Raphael Varane – 0.7
Harry Maguire – 0.6
Fouls per 90 minutes
Manuel Akanji – 0.7
Harry Maguire – 0.7
Victor Lindelof – 0.7
Raphael Varane – 0.2
Clearances per 90 minutes
Victor Lindelof – 4.3
Raphael Varane – 3.9
Harry Maguire – 3.7
Manuel Akanji – 2
Passes per 90 minutes (accuracy)
Manuel Akanji – 75.9 (90.6%)
Harry Maguire – 58.9 (85.6%)
Raphael Varane – 58.3 (87.1%)
Victor Lindelof – 54.4 (86.6%)
https://www.planetfootball.com/quic...d-transfer-stats-centre-backs-maguire-varane/
Using our name for a new contract no doubt. Centre back is surely bottom of our priorities for the summer.
I like him and have followed him since he was at Basel. He can be a solid squad player for us.
So if we go by this thread, he's an all around centre back without any flaws, and he's also utter shit.
Thanks Caf.
Thanks Caf.
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