Harry Maguire’s future at Manchester United is yet to be decided, but already, Dan Armer looks like a logical future replacement.
Manchester United academy defender Dan Armer is a talent who often goes under the radar, sharing a lot of traits with underrated first-team defender Harry Maguire.
Both players have similar situations in that they aren’t considered luxury, with Lisandro Martinez and Leny Yoro perceived as more exciting in the first team, while Armer is underrated compared with Jayden Ngwashi and Godwill Kukonki.
However, Maguire has been great for United for the past six years, not living up to his £80m price tag, but has been reliably a great centre-back for years. Armer falls into a similar category for the academy, which explains why he is so underrated.
Dan Armer plays exactly like Harry Maguire
This billing might be slightly unfair to Armer, but he deserves so much more praise than he gets, just like Maguire. Both are stellar defenders, excellent on the ball, and leaders, and Armer is really coming into his own now for United’s U18 side.
Armer has been rock solid this season, looking completely comfortable and dominant at U18 level, with one real moment of class coming on Saturday.
As United beat Wolves 3-1 on Saturday, Armer was who gave JJ Gabriel the ball for his wonderful goal in the first half, picking a pass through the lines with real precision.
Armer gets on the ball a lot for the U18s, dictating play from the back with expertise as he knocks it around, which is a similarity to Maguire.
Also like Maguire, he is aerially dominant and has the height on most attackers. There is also an astounding likeness in the way the two defenders move, their passing style, touches and posture, almost as though he is a clone.
However, where Armer is actually different from Maguire is why he could end up succeeding at United.
Armer has a much better turn of pace than Maguire, which saves him when balls go in-behind, while the first team version struggles. Additionally, Armer is left-footed compared to Maguire’s right.
Armer needs one big development before he’s Manchester United-ready
Armer has already trained with United’s first-team over the past couple of seasons, but he currently won’t be anywhere close to getting a call-up to play under Michael Carrick.
This is his physicality, with Armer just simply too slight right now to be playing against senior players in the Premier League and also down the divisions.
Armer is 18, and he will fill out now that he’s stopped growing, which should be high on his and the club’s priority list to bulk him up a little over the next year.
Everything else about Armer’s game is strong and to the level that he looks like a future Premier League player, so long as he continues to develop and grow physically.
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