Perr Schuurs, a promising center-back for Torino who formerly worked for Erik ten Hag at Ajax, is thought to be of great interest to Manchester United.
What’s new with Schuurs going to Manchester United?
The Red Devils are reportedly among the clubs interested in signing the 23-year-old this summer, along with rival Liverpool and Ligue 1 powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. This information comes from the Italian website Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.
According to the source, the three top European teams are all “ready” to make an offer of about €30 million (£26 million) for the 6 foot 3 star, however the Serie A club wants to hang onto the former Netherlands U21 international.
The club wants to deter any sizable interest in the towering asset, who moved to Italy only last summer on a €9.5 million (£8 million) transaction after making 92 appearances under Ten Hag’s direction at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
What sort of gamer is Perr Schuurs?
Jacek Kulig, a talent scout, described the “ball-playing” defender as “perfect” for the Ajax system under Ten Hag, which led to the impression that the £22k per week threat could easily fit in under his compatriot once more at Old Trafford.
The former Fortuna Sittard player also seems to have similarities to Manchester City veteran Vincent Kompany, Kulig remarked back in 2019. United are undoubtedly interested by the idea of acquiring their own version of the dominant Belgian, as Kulig also noted back in 2019.
Kompany, who is just slightly taller than Schuurs at 6 foot 4, is now making significant gains in his management career after leading Burnley back into the first tier at the first attempt. During his 11-year tenure at the Etihad, Kompany was a true force to be reckoned with.
Despite the fact that he has only recently been admitted into the Premier League’s hall of fame, the 89-cap fighter is a true Premier League classic. Current city manager Pep Guardiola earlier praised him as a “incredible” player back in 2019.
The 37-year-old was a true “leader” in his prime, according to Guardiola, and United seemed to need one given the troubles facing club captain Harry Maguire and rumours that the Englishman could be leaving this summer. The 37-year-old amassed 360 appearances and four league titles during his time in Manchester.
Due to his resemblance to the aforementioned Kompany, young Schuurs may be the perfect choice to assume a prominent position at the centre of the defence as Maguire, who has made just seven top-flight starts this season, is set to leave.
The pair’s attacking talent is another point of comparison to the latter player; the retiring Belgian scored 20 goals while living in England, while Schuurs has amassed a decent total of 14 goals so far at the senior level.
The Torino player has also demonstrated his defensive prowess this season in Serie A, with an average of 1.8 tackles and one interception across his 28 league games. Maguire, in contrast, has averaged just 0.5 and 0.7 for those same two measures across his 15 league appearances.
Schuurs may thus not only attempt to repeat the success that Kompany had for United’s rivals in Manchester, but he also has the potential to be the ideal successor to Maguire in the backline.