Manchester United made the questionable decision last summer to skip on signing a defensive midfielder.
It was a choice which ultimately ended up costing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job, with United’s attacking signings hurt by the team failing to control matches in midfield, and leaking goals.
So it is of utmost importance that Manchester United sign a defensive midfielder this summer, and it should really be a foregone conclusion, but the bigger question is over which one.
Paying up the £150 million The Athletic claim West Ham want for Declan Rice is totally unwise, and United must look to more sensibly priced options. Step forward Konrad Laimer.
Laimer could be an exciting and important signing
German newspaper BILD this week claimed Manchester United are eyeing Austria international Konrad Laimer.
Laimer has only one year remaining on his contract at RB Leipzig, and as such, would become available at a knockdown price this summer.
He is also very well known to Ralf Rangnick, who signed him for the German side in 2017. Laimer has gone onto play 149 times for Leipzig and is only 24.
This season he has shaken off injury problems which caused him to miss both Champions League games against United last season, playing in 31 matches already this campaign.
Laimer is more than just a defensive midfielder, as he can contribute further forward to. In terms of what United are looking for, he has the skillset United need, described as ‘incredibly aggressive’ by former RB Salzburg boss Adi Hutter, via Bundesliga.com.
Among the best in Europe
Defensively, Laimer’s numbers are elite. He is precisely the type of player Rangnick wants, and would recommend, and with the role crucial to Erik ten Hag’s system, his credentials would be appreciated. FBRef.com data shows Laimer’s quality off the ball.
- Laimer is in the top 1 per cent of players in Europe’s top five leagues for both ‘pressures’ and ‘successful pressures’.
- Laimer is in the top 4 per cent of players in Europe’s top five leagues for blocked passes.
- His off-ball pressures are near equal in the defensive third, middle third, and the attacking third.
- Laimer is in the top 15 per cent of players in Europe’s top five leagues for tackles won, averaging 2.01 per game.
- He is in the top 2 per cent of Europe’s top five leagues for tackles made in the final third.
On the ball Laimer also has quality too, ranking in the top five per cent for assists, and top three per cent for Goal Creating Actions.
Laimer is a player who could offer a lot to Manchester United on both sides of the ball, and could be a very savvy signing for the club, especially considering his knockdown price.
Where Laimer fits in
Laimer would be an astute signing for United considering his combination of quality and cost. And what he can bring to the team is beyond just his individual contribution.
The Austrian international would instantly provide United with better shape, and he could make Manchester United’s players better.
The defence would benefit from the tenacity and protection he would provide in front of them, while his midfield partner will also be freed from some of the defensive work. Fred for instance, has shown this season at times, and for Brazil, he is a better player when able to get forward.
United’s attacking players would all be better off for Laimer being in the team, and while one signing alone cannot solve the team’s many problems, he would become a pivotal player to build around.
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