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Manchester United are on the hunt for a new midfielder this summer after Ruben Amorim requested an athletic number eight to bolster his squad after the club’s worst season in the Premier League era.
But United’s major weakness lies in Amorim’s misfiring forward line with the senior striking partnership of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee combining for just seven league goals last year.
Similarly, the club are expected to prioritise the sales of Alejandro Garnacho, after the Argentina international’s public dispute with Amorim, and the three loanees – Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho – to help generate funds for the summer budget.
This means upgrades will need to be sourced to transform the attack with only four teams scoring fewer goals than United last season – Everton and the three relegated sides, Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton.
A £62.5 million deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has already been agreed while the Reds are locked in negotiations with Brentford for Bryan Mbeumo at a similar price point.
A new number nine is also considered an urgent priority with advances made for Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting CP) and Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt) after a failed pursuit of Liam Delap, who chose Stamford Bridge over Old Trafford despite “face-to-face” talks.
But this attack-centric approach will command the vast majority of the summer war chest with little room left for reinforcements elsewhere on the pitch. And this is why United must prioritise a move for Sevilla midfield general Lucien Agoume – to provide Amorim with the exact profile of midfielder he has demanded at an affordable price.
A Complete Midfielder
Agoume, 23, has emerged as one of the standout young midfielders in La Liga in recent seasons, demonstrating excellent defensive instincts coupled with underrated ball-progression abilities and outstanding physicality.
Standing 6’1, the France U-21 international, currently playing in the European Championship in Slovakia, acts as the lynchpin in Sevilla’s midfield. Among midfielders in Europe’s top five league, he ranks in the 95th percentile for interceptions, 87th for aerial duels, and 86th for tackles.
Sevilla endured a miserable campaign, however, narrowly avoiding relegation by just one point after finishing 17th in La Liga. Agoume was a rare bright spot amid a sea of mediocrity at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
And despite his side’s dismal form, and being tasked primarily with defensive responsibilities, the Frenchman still provided quality in possession for the Rojiblancos.
He clocked in at the 75th percentile for assists, 78th for successful take-ons and 73rd for progressive carries, evidencing his ability to be as effective with the ball as without. The scope for these statistics to improve even further in a better team is obvious.
Agoume offers the exact profile Amorim prefers in a midfielder with the Portuguese coach’s 3-4-2-1 system placing a great deal of pressure on the central pivot with a need for brains and brawn in equal measure. Comparisons have been drawn with N’Golo Kante after both players emerged from the second division in France, demonstrating similarly well-rounded skillsets.
The need for a new midfielder at Old Trafford is obvious – as Amorim has identified – and Agoume fits the bill perfectly.
Christian Eriksen is set to leave United this month while neither Casemiro nor Kobbie Mainoo offer the requisite physicality Amorim demands. Conversely, Manuel Ugarte is excellent in regaining the ball but offers little once he does.
This leaves Bruno Fernandes as the only other senior option in Amorim’s squad, but stationing the Portugal international deeper in midfield inhibits his goal-scoring threat at a time when the team’s attack desperately needs to improve.
A Bargain Price
United have previously been linked with Agoume in January, meaning the French midfielder has admirers at Old Trafford already.
But Sevilla are experiencing a financial “crisis” and local reporter Máximo de la Cruz Ramírez Ramírez reveals the Spanish club could be forced to accept offers lower than €20 million for the 23-year-old this summer.
Ramírez contends Arsenal are “monitoring” Agoume’s situation as they assess options to replace out-of-contract midfielder Thomas Partey. There has been “no contact” between the Gunners and the player, however.
The Red Devils need to jump the queue ahead for the Frenchman of their domestic rivals as the club’s budget will only enable a cheaper midfield signing this summer – and Agoume constitutes the best value option on the market.
INEOS must act now, before it is too late.
Feature image Fran Santiago via Getty Images
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