Ruben Amorim is yet to sit down and discuss his Manchester United tenure, although the question at the top of the list might well be this: What was the deal with Kobbie Mainoo?
The Portuguese’s insistence on a 3-4-2-1 formation left Mainoo feeling like something of a spare part at Old Trafford, failing to start a single Premier League game in the first half of the season, amid talk of a potential loan departure in January.
The change in the dugout has since brought a revival both for United and for the 21-year-old himself, on course for a World Cup place after starting 11 of Michael Carrick‘s 12 games in charge.
Against Chelsea most recently, Mainoo was a joy to watch up against compatriot Cole Palmer, putting in his “best” performance of the Carrick regime to date, in the view of his manager.
After such a stark decline under Amorim, the Stockport sensation again looks like the player to build this midfield around, ahead of a summer that could see seismic investment in that department.
The latest on Man Utd’s interest in Aurelien Tchouameni
Mainoo’s absence against Leeds United aside, Carrick has settled on a midfield triumvirate of the young Englishman, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, the Brazilian enjoying a real resurgence in what is set to be his final season at Old Trafford.
In need of a direct replacement for the £70m signing, the suggestion is that United may well look to his former club Real Madrid for the solution, in the form of Aurelien Tchouameni.
Signed to be Casemiro’s replacement at the Bernabeu, the 26-year-old is now believed to be on the Old Trafford side’s shortlist as they seek to replace the veteran midfielder in Manchester.
Indeed, as relayed earlier this week, it appears unlikely that either Sandro Tonali or Adam Wharton will join the Red Devils this summer, thus widening the scope for potential targets.
Tchouameni is an attractive target in that sense, particularly with Elliot Anderson also looking destined for a move to Manchester City instead, with Pep Guardiola’s side deemed to be the frontrunners as things stand.
|
Tchouameni vs Anderson – 25/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Tchouameni |
Stat (*per game) |
Anderson |
|
29 |
Games |
33 |
|
1 |
Goals |
2 |
|
0 |
Assists |
2 |
|
91% |
Pass rate* |
86% |
|
0.8 |
Key passes* |
1.5 |
|
2.1 |
Tackles* |
2.8 |
|
1.2 |
Interceptions* |
1.1 |
|
4.4 |
Balls recovered* |
8.4 |
|
69% |
Total duels won* |
55% |
|
75% |
Aerial duels won* |
59% |
The suggestion is that the France star could be available if Madrid are able to sign a replacement, with City talisman Rodri having been mooted, ensuring there could be something of a midfield domino effect this summer.
Regardless of whether or not Tchouameni does arrive in Manchester, however, INEOS have already wrapped up a deal for potentially the game’s next midfield superstar.
The next Tchouameni and Mainoo is on his way to Man Utd
Be it with regard to Ayden Heaven or Chido Obi, the INEOS regime have already showcased their desire to look to the future, having also secured the early signing of Paraguayan defender, Diego Leon, prior to the teenager’s arrival last summer.
He was a monster vs Chelsea: 8/10 Man Utd star is becoming the new Mainoo
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That capture of Leon – who is yet to make a first-team appearance for the club – looks to have been repeated this season too, with Fabrizio Romano confirming before Christmas that United have struck a deal for Colombian youngster, Cristian Orozco.
Set to sign on a £750k deal, the 17-year-old will arrive at Old Trafford when he turns 18 this summer, having so far made just two first-team appearances for current side Fortaleza.
That minimal game time would suggest that patience will be required when the South American starlet does make the switch later this year, although hopes are already high considering his stellar potential.
Indeed, Orozco could well be the next dominant midfield force in the mould of Tchouameni and Mainoo, having been hailed as the “new [Moises] Caicedo” by Romano in the recent past.
Like the aforementioned pair, the Colombia U17 captain is typically deployed as a deep-lying number six or in a slightly more advanced number eight berth, with analyst and Como scout Ben Mattinson hailing him for his “press-resistant” qualities in that pivot role.
In the view of Mattinson too, he is “so composed under pressure; knows where markers are and how much time he has on the ball”, traits that were very much evident in Mainoo’s performance at Stamford Bridge last time out.
While there is little to look upon with regard to Orozco’s first-team involvement, his form on the international stage provides an exciting insight, having notably averaged three tackles and interceptions per game at the U17 World Cup back in the Autumn, alongside averaging 6.5 recoveries per game.
For context, in LaLiga this season, Tchouameni is averaging a similar record of 3.3 tackles and interceptions per game, while averaging 4.4 recoveries from his 29 appearances.
Like the Frenchman and Mainoo, Orozco isn’t an attack-minded, box-crashing midfielder, but he is a dominant, physical pillar in front of the back four, having won 67% of his aerial duels in that youth tournament last year – not too far off the 75% that Tchouameni has averaged back in Spain.
Patience, as already stated, will be required when the teenager does rock up in Manchester this summer, yet he look like the perfect figure to bolster United’s midfield ranks ahead of next season.
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