A lot has been manufactured from the change in regime at Outdated Trafford of late, though but once more Manchester United head into the ultimate throws of the switch window with enterprise nonetheless to be accomplished, each when it comes to incomings and outgoings.
A deal for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte – aided by the sale of Scott McTominay to Napoli – appears to be like to be all however finished, but work stays to try to transfer on Jadon Sancho over the following 24 hours or so, with the Englishman having been overlooked for the primary two Premier League video games of the season.
Whereas unlikely at this stage, there are murmurs that an exit for Sancho may result in a late attacking addition for the Purple Devils, with rumours rife relating to a shock transfer for a sure Raheem Sterling.
The Chelsea outcast just isn’t the one Premier League expertise that Dan Ashworth and co are , nonetheless, amid experiences of a late swoop for an additional England star…
Man Utd’s seek for a striker
The newest suggestion is that United are within the combine for Brentford’s wantaway talisman, Ivan Toney, though in accordance with Soccer Insider, Erik ten Hag’s facet is also able to make a late transfer for Everton’s quantity 9, Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
As per the report, each the Purple Devils and Newcastle United are mentioned to be fascinated by making a last-gasp swoop for the 27-year-old, with Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea additionally maintaining a eager eye on the participant amid their very own hunt for a striker.
The piece notes that Calvert-Lewin – who was famous as a goal for Ten Hag earlier this summer season by The Athletic – has rejected a number of contract gives from the Toffees, with simply 12 months remaining on his present deal.
Why Calvert-Lewin could be a great signing
On the face of it, any transfer for the Goodison hero would look like an odd one, notably contemplating he has scored simply 14 league targets because the begin of 2021/22.
There will even be concern over the previous Sheffield United man’s damage report, but actually, he really accomplished extra minutes within the prime flight than Rasmus Hojlund final season (2171 vs 2158), whereas scoring seven instances in 32 outings.
The figurehead of a defensive-minded Everton facet, Calvert-Lewin may maybe thrive in a extra attacking set-up, having beforehand showcased his goalscoring credentials below Carlo Ancelotti, after bagging 29 league targets throughout 2019/20 and 2020/21.
It’s that prior expertise within the division that has led talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent to say that he would signify an “improve” on United’s present crop of strikers, within the type of Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, with the latter man hardly an out-and-out goalscorer after netting simply 12 instances for Bologna final season.
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Calvert-Lewin vs Hojlund vs Zirkzee – 2023/24 league stats |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
Metric (per 90) |
DCL |
Hojlund |
Zirkzee |
|
Video games (begins) |
32 (26) |
30 (25) |
34 (32) |
|
Minutes performed |
2171 |
2158 |
2759 |
|
Targets |
0.29 |
0.42 |
0.36 |
|
Assists |
0.08 |
0.08 |
0.13 |
|
Progressive carries |
1.49 |
1.50 |
1.73 |
|
Progressive passes |
1.29 |
1.38 |
2.80 |
|
Touches in opposition field |
5.15 |
4.00 |
4.43 |
|
Aerial duels received |
5.68 |
1.04 |
0.94 |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
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What notably stands out above is simply how superior Calvert-Lewin is within the air to United’s present pair, whereas additionally boasting a higher knack for stepping into the attacking penalty space, along with his younger counterparts seemingly extra involved with getting concerned within the build-up.
As Bent famous, on his day the Englishman might be “unplayable” – like he was below Ancelotti – providing an actual focus in assault, maybe within the mould of what the 6 foot 3 Sebastian Haller offered below Ten Hag at Ajax.
With Zirkzee himself suggesting that he’s extra of a ‘9 and a half’ than a real centre-forward – and with Hojlund nonetheless “studying the sport”, as per Paul Scholes – a extra skilled, orthodox choice might be required.
What Calvert-Lewin – who has scored 54 top-flight targets to this point – additionally boasts is an obvious likeness to a determine of United folklore, with ex-teammate Richarlison stating that he’s “like Cristiano Ronaldo”, as a consequence of his “unbelievable leap”.
As indicated above, Ronaldo in his pomp was a real grasp within the air, with it some reward for Calvert-Lewin to even be talked about in the identical breath because the Portuguese icon.
That aerial prowess of the Toffees star is seen in the truth that 20 of his league targets have come from headers up to now, additional showcasing the penalty-box presence that he can present on the Theatre of Goals.
With the likes of Bruno Fernandes – who created probably the most probabilities within the top-flight final season – offering Calvert-Lewin with a plethora of openings, maybe he may return to the model of himself that was so lethal below Ancelotti’s watch.
