Manchester United are primed to announce Ederson as the first signing of this summer transfer window, and he will get plenty of time alongside Kobbie Mainoo next season.
Over the course of this week, Manchester United’s move to sign Ederson has gone from early talks to the deal potentially now on the cusp of completion.
Ederson’s arrival could even be completed this week, which means we need to properly start looking at how he fits into the United midfield and primarily alongside Kobbie Mainoo.
Of course, Ederson doesn’t arrive as a first-choice midfielder, but he is guaranteed to feature with Mainoo. So here is how we see the duo working together.
Kobbie Mainoo would enjoy playing with Ederson
A lot of negativity has followed this transfer saga, but putting aside it being underwhelming as a first signing, Ederson is a great signing to bolster the deeper squad.
It won’t be United’s first choice pairing, but if they do start games together, it will be a partnership that gets the best from each other.
Ederson is a duel winner and a runner, which are the biggest traits Mainoo needs in a partner to allow him to focus on being brilliant with the ball.
But when analysing the two, Ederson actually surpasses Mainoo in every aspect, albeit the factor of Serie A vs Premier League must be accounted for.
| Ederson | Statistic percentile | Mainoo |
| 54th percentile | Duel winning % | 35th percentile |
| 73rd percentile | Possession won | 42nd percentile |
| 73rd percentile | Progressive carries | 62nd percentile |
| 87th percentile | Forward passes | 71st percentile |
| 85th percentile | Forward pass % | 93rd percentile |
| 69th percentile | Key passes | 57th percentile |
| 79th percentile | Progressive passes | 19th percentile |
Mainoo’s statistics, however, also have the factor that for much of this season, he was playing as the one having to cover for Casemiro, effectively being left exposed and overrun as a result.
But Ederson instead would bring the best from Mainoo.
Importantly, Ederson’s versatility would allow him to be more defensive, allowing Mainoo to move forward, but equally, the opposite could happen, as Mainoo proved his ability as a ball-winner under Michael Carrick.
Versatility seems to be the name of the game.
Manchester United is building a midfield that can all play with each other
While United need to find the perfect partner for Mainoo this summer, in a player who is good enough to start on the biggest stage.
Ederson isn’t that for United, but his ability to play different roles in the midfield is a sign of things to come.
United’s interest in Mateus Fernandes ticks a similar box, with the Portuguese midfielder also capable of playing multiple roles and being comfortable across the pitch.
Far too often over the past few years, United’s midfield has seen players who can’t play together, with qualities unsuited to being fielded together, such as Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.
But the way this rebuild is going, United won’t have the same issues going forward.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/5TKyvQj