Manchester United have found their winning form after the
appointed of Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, winning 4 games in a row bring attacking and
attractive football back at the famous pitch of Old Trafford. With the January transfer
window up and running, it will be interesting to see the clubs transfer activity
with an interim coach appointed. But the club could benefit with one possible transfer
activity.
Chelsea have kick started the winter window by securing the
services of Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic for 57 million, who will subsequently
join the Blue’s in June as he has been loaned back to the German side for the
remainder of the season. Chelsea are also looking to trim their squad by
offloading veteran English defender Gary Cahill who is a major target for Fulham
who are looking to bolster their defence by adding some experience in a new looking
Claudio Ranieri set up. Fulham on the hand, are willing to part ways with full
back Tim Fosu-Mensah to make space for Cahill. Fosu-Mensah had been loaned by
Mourinho to give him valuable experience in the Premier League but the Netherlands
youngster has been restricted to only 9 appearances this season followed by a
string of loses for the newly promoted side. But if this deal goes through, it
would be a blessing for Ole, the fans and the club should their academy
graduate return.
United still have a fluctuating defence and more in the
right back area. Valencia will still remain the club’s captain even though he
is linked with a move to Inter Milan willing to sign him on a free in the
summer. Valencia, 33 is slowing down in pace and technicality and doesn’t provide
the required output in the form of crosses inside the box and attacking runs.
Dalot looks like a long-term successor and with the questions of his future and
productivity in question, Fosu-Mensah would be a valuable asset to the squad.
Ole expressed his desire to give more minutes to youth and
has already given first team debuts to two of the academy’s brightest talents,
Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes, also including the likes of James Garner in the
match day squad. He refused to loan out these talented players by giving them
more first team exposure certainly is continuing the club’s age-old tradition
of youth development.
Ole has adopted a fan favourite game play of high-octane attacking
football in which the players fight for the ball, apply pressure on the
opposition and creating many chances via wings. His game is highly dependant on
the movement of Pogba and the attackers, allowing them to roam free through the
middle and letting the full backs make forward runs and cut inside to supply
crosses. The perfect game plan for the likes of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot who
are strong, quick and brilliant crossers pf the ball. We have also witnessed
the likes of Lindelof and Jones turning into ball playing centre backs who push
into the midfield and supply passes. Lindelof usually sets up passes in the
middle of the park and initiate quick counters and scoring chances. But, the
likes of Valencia and Young have seemed to have struggled in this kind of set-up
mainly pertaining to their age as both of them are over 33 and do not have the speed,
stamina and crossing ability left in them and can’t compete against the better
full backs in the modern game. It is no doubt that the likes of Dalot, Shaw and
Fosu-Mensah are better solution.
Fosu-Mensah is 21 and is still maturing. He showed immense
potential when Louis Van Gaal handed him his senior debut 4 years back and
since then has become out of favour for Mourinho and an unavailable option for
Solksjaer due to his loan. Should his loan be terminated, he would welcome him
with open arms. Tim is a versatile defender who has the body and technical ability
to slot into midfield if needed. He is strong, fast and can make attacking runs
by pushing his way through like a bulldozer. A strong and thunderous right back
has been missing for a couple of seasons and Fosu-Mensah would flourish in Ole’s
set-up as it is his natural game play. He also has a great defensive output and
can make strong tackles but during his time at Fulham he conceded many fouls in
crucial areas of the pitch which threatened his side defensively. Averaging
over 67 touches per 90 and winning 46% of his tackles per game, Tim has a
decent stat record for a player who hasn’t got enough chances to impress. His
stand-out negative is his fouls. He averages 1.12 fouls per game and already
has had 3 yellow cards in his 8 appearances for Fulham this year.
Given these stats, there is definitely room for improvement
as he is still young and given, he is an academy graduate, problems at right
back and Ole’s faith in the youth and academy, Fosu-Mensah has a great
opportunity ahead of him should Gary Cahill switch to Fulham.
The perfect example for him are Trent Alexander-Arnold who regardless
of his weak physique consolidated the right back spot at Liverpool becoming one
their key players within a year and helping them reach the Champions League
final. Also, Aaron Wan Bissaka who was promoted to the senior side at Crystal
Palace and immediately made an impact. Consistent run games just made them
better.
Given United’s current situation, giving Tim Fosu-Mensah a
go in the second half of the season would ease the pressure off Valencia and
provide healthy competition for Dalot and provide cover for other defensive areas
of the defensive or midfield should the need arise as he is a rare gem
possessing a versatile quality of playing in multiple areas of the pitch and is
a very good ball player and dribbler of the ball. United could very well use
his skill of bulldozing his way through the right flank and continue Ole’s new style
of dynamic free flowing football.
Fosu-Mensah however will not be a regular starting option for
the squad given his lack of experience and it is most definite that United will
be in the market for a highly rated right back in the summer as Matteo Darmian’s
future looks uncertain and Valencia should be shown the exit door no matter who
takes the reigns permanently.
Claudio Ranieri has stated that Fosu-Mensah can return to
Manchester United if they want him, but nobody can deny that the real reason
would be because of their own transfer agenda! The youngster is also highly
rated in his homeland with many Dutch pundits like Van Gaal and Netherlands
manager Ronald Koeman who highly regard him, with the later saying that the
player should get more opportunities to play to get into the national side, a
new looking youthful side showing signs of the glory days with stars like
Depay, De Jong, Van Dijk, Promes, De Ligt ect.
Fosu-Mensah really deserves chances in the top flight and
with the right team and under an attacking manager, the club shouldn’t waste
time and recall to the place he rightfully belongs, home, Old Trafford!
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