Manchester United are still sitting strong near the top of the Premier League table, even as the squad adapts to the major tactical changes brought in by Michael Carrick. Currently in third place, the Red Devils are gearing up for their next match against Leeds United. This window is a vital time for the recruitment team to spot and fix the holes in the current setup.
Even with plenty of talent already in the building, the club are sticking to a data-led strategy to ensure every new signing fills a specific need, rather than just chasing big names. Hence, scouts are looking across Europe for versatile players who can offer long-term stability and different ways to play.
Maghnes Akliouche and Manchester United links
Transfer expert Pete O’Rourke shared an interesting update on the Transfer Insider podcast about the club’s interest in Monaco star Maghnes Akliouche. While the French attacker has hogged the headlines across Europe with his form in Ligue 1 and the Champions League, United don’t see him as a top priority for the next window.
O’Rourke explained that the club want to focus on bringing in a new left-winger first, as the squad is currently short on natural width on that side. This makes Akliouche less of a priority, since he usually plays as a right-sided creator or a central playmaker.
“The only thing is, I don’t think he’ll (Akliouche) be a top priority for Man United, because he’s more of a right-sided winger than a left.
“United’s priority is to bring in a left-sided winger rather than a right-sided one, which is where Bryan Mbeumo plays right now.
“It probably means that Akliouche is down the pecking order for their targets.”
Looking at the numbers, Akliouche has had a solid season with 6 goals and 3 assists in 26 league games, paired with a decent non-penalty expected goals (npxG) of 0.30 per 90. His passing is reliable too, completing over 84% of his 41.28 passes per game, but these qualities don’t solve the immediate problem on United’s left wing. (Stats via Footy Stats)
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Why should the club focus on the left flank first?
Manchester United have to fix the imbalance on the left wing to bring back the genuine goal threat that disappeared after the recent squad clear-out. While Akliouche is clearly talented and has the stats to back it up, the club already have several options on the right who need regular minutes to develop. Spending big on another right-sided player before finding a direct, high-volume dribbler for the left would be a massive mistake in how this squad is built.
Relying on makeshift fixes or forcing central players to drift wide has made the attack predictable and easy for top defences to shut down. By securing a specialist for the left, the recruitment team will finally give the team the balance they need to actually push for the title.
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While Akliouche’s reported £47.5 million price tag is fair, Manchester United have to avoid the temptation of market opportunities that don’t address their biggest weaknesses. Success next season depends on the board fixing the left-wing issue before they start looking at luxury signings.
