The Manchester United Sofyan Amrabat transfer alternative that fits Erik ten Hag’s style

The alternative market Sofyan Amrabat of Manchester United that suits the style of Erik ten Hag

Manchester United could be looking at another midfielder if the club is able to raise transfer funds, including on the left with moves for Firoentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, while Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka is also mentioned as an interesting player

Leon Goretzka of Bayern Munich (Image: Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)

Manchester United’s success in signing in fringe players will determine whether Erik ten Hag explores further transfer targets in the closing weeks of the period.

The Reds have demonstrated a no-nonsense approach to their recruiting and have identified clear areas for improvement. Mason Mount came on goal first to bolster United’s midfield options, while Andre Onana replaced long-serving number one David De Gea. The imminent arrival of Rasmus Hojlund will provide United with a much needed number nine.

The trio saw the club spend around £178m, but with several players’ immediate futures still in doubt, United could still raise enough cash to make another statement. Harry Maguire, Dean Henderson and Fred are among those who could fetch a big fee if a club matches United’s ratings.

Ten Hag previously worked with Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat during their time at Dutch club Utrecht and the Moroccan international is close to him. A player also tipped as a potential United signing is Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka.

And while he wouldn’t be cheap with the prospect of paying at least £30m for the 28-year-old, he seems to suit Ten Hag’s pressing style well. During his five seasons at Bayern, he excelled in various midfield positions and established himself as a crucial all-rounder as the club won the treble in 2020. Goretzka transformed his physique during the blockade and led the former head of Manchester United Ralf Ralnnick to describe it as “the best box-to-box player in the world”.

But his future in Bavaria seems to be interrogated with the current head of Bayern Thomas Tuchel who promotes a midfield of Joshua Kimmich and Korad Liamer. Goretzka would be suitable for the requirements of ten Hag in its midfielders, as explained by Hansi Flick, who collaborated with the former Schalke man at the club and international level.

“He puts his opponent under a very intense and aggressive pressure and wins the ball a lot,” Flick said to Kicker. “It is very important for us and I am more than satisfied with its development.”

Once the “talent of the century” of the coach of the VFL Bochum Peter Neururer, when he was only 18 years old, Goretzka learned to put pressure in his passage and developed leadership quality, both inside and off the pitch. With his contract with Bayern ready to walk for another three years, he would need an important compensation for United in order to bring international Germany to Old Trafford. It remains to be seen if the reported interest is fixed and that Tuchel admitted that he had not heard that Goretzka wanted to leave Bavaria, but also refused to exclude it.

“There can always be a situation – as with Lucas Hernandez, which I fully expected – that players have other plans,” Tuchel told Sky Sports Germany. “I haven’t heard that from Leon, but this is only the start of preparation. There is a lot of competition. “”