“Just imagine him and Mainoo” – Manchester United targets a move for a “monster” central midfielder who surpasses Ugarte, following advice from club legend Gary Neville.

After a strong finish to an overall challenging season, winning the FA Cup and securing Europa League football, Manchester United will aim to bolster their squad ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season.

 

One standout performer for Erik ten Hag’s team was 19-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who made 33 senior appearances, scoring five goals and providing three assists in the 2023/24 campaign.

 

The young talent has also earned a start for Gareth Southgate’s England side at EURO 2024, showcasing his skills on the international stage.

Manchester United now faces the task of finding the perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo to unlock his full potential and help him flourish further, with PSG’s Manuel Ugarte being one of the names mentioned.

 

Manchester United transfer news

According to le10sport, PSG are not interested in selling Ugarte this summer. Consequently, Manchester United could turn their attention to Youssouf Fofana of AS Monaco.

 

Fofana is considered a more financially viable option compared to Ugarte, with a similar profile. According to Transfermarkt, Fofana is valued at €30m (£25m).

Acquiring Fofana for a lower cost than Ugarte would be a financially prudent decision for the club, while also addressing a key positional need with the right player profile.

 

**How Fofana compares to Ugarte**

Let’s examine their stats for their respective Ligue 1 teams. Fofana played 35 matches in all competitions for Monaco last season, scoring four goals and providing four assists.

In comparison, Ugarte made 37 appearances for PSG, with no goals but three assists. It’s worth noting that Fofana played over 500 minutes more than Ugarte, despite having two fewer appearances.

 

However, it’s important to remember that these players shouldn’t be evaluated solely on their goals and assists. Their primary role is to protect the defense and create a foundation for other midfielders to thrive.

Ugarte excels as a box-to-box ball winner, as demonstrated by his defensive action metrics. The Uruguayan midfielder makes 4.11 tackles per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe for tackles per game. In contrast, Fofana makes only 2.04 tackles per 90 minutes, ranking him in the top 48% for tackles.

 

However, Fofana’s “monster” profile, as described by analyst Ben Mattinson, offers a well-rounded skill set in the defensive midfield position.

The 6-foot-1 Frenchman is highly active, making 1.23 interceptions, 1.17 blocks, 1.03 clearances, and winning 0.57 aerial duels per 90 minutes, highlighting his defensive contributions.

Fofana also excels as one of the most progressive passers in Europe, making 8.31 progressive passes per 90 minutes, which places him in the top 5% of midfielders for this statistic. In comparison, Ugarte makes only 3.91 progressive passes per 90 minutes.

While Ugarte is one of the world’s top ball-winning midfielders, Fofana matches this defensive prowess thanks to his physicality and ability to cover ground. Additionally, Fofana offers elite ball progression through both passing and dribbling.

Having a player who can support Mainoo defensively, allowing him to influence the game higher up the pitch, while also dictating play from deeper positions to enable the teenager to receive the ball in advanced areas, could be a winning formula for Manchester United’s midfield.