Imagine him, Martial & Sancho: Ten Hag must now finalize MUFC move for “extraordinary” £60m gem – opinion
Manchester United have been linked with a £60 million move for Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi, and the Moroccan international could be a game-changer for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Journalist Jacque Talbot revealed earlier this month that the 52-year-old was interested in bringing the former Real Madrid man to Old Trafford as he attempts to lead a revolution with the Premier League heavyweights.
According to the source, Hakimi would be an expensive choice for United, but Ten Hag’really likes’ him, and given the quality of United’s existing right-backs, the 23-year-old may be well worth the expenditure.
Last season, neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot provided a single goal or assist in the Premier League, highlighting their offensive shortcomings.
Hakimi, on the other hand, contributed four goals and six assists in 32 league appearances for PSG in 2021/22, averaging a strong 6.93 rating from WhoScored.
After starring for Inter, Brazil legend Ronaldo praised Hakimi, calling him an “amazing player,” and United might be the latest club to profit from Real Madrid’s blunder in letting him leave.
After being judged surplus to needs at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 23-year-old has excelled in loan spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter. If he moves to Old Trafford, he might be a part of Ten Hag’s efforts to overhaul the Red Devils’ defense.
This summer, the new United manager has already recruited Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez as he attempts to improve on a back four that conceded a startling 57 goals in the Premier League last season.
Hakimi would also significantly strengthen United’s right flank going forward, as evidenced by his ranking in the 99th percentile for a pass completion and the 94th percentile for progressive passes against positional counterparts in Europe’s top five leagues last season.
He might form a good connection with Sancho again after playing alongside him at Dortmund, and he is a big supporter of the England international.
“I think you’ve already seen he’s a wonderful player,” Hakimi said of the United winger in 2019. I admire how he plays, how he dribbles, and how comfortable he is in one-on-one situations.
“He’s still young, like me, and we’ve got to keep working every day, learning everything we can, and I think if he keeps doing this, he’ll have a pretty wonderful career.” We get along pretty well in the changing room and discuss a lot of things besides being colleagues.”
As a result, Ten Hag should do everything in his power to get Hakimi in this summer, as the Moroccan might help rekindle the Red Devils and propel them back into title contention.
