After signing Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta, Manchester United may be planning to make further purchases this summer. Sofyan Amrabat, another Serie A star, may follow the towering Dane to Old Trafford.
What’s new with Amrabat going to Manchester United?
The Fiorentina maestro, who has just one year left on his contract, may be up for grabs, with sources in Italy claiming that the Red Devils have already submitted a proposal for him.
The former Club Brugge star, who previously served as Erik ten Hag’s assistant at FC Utrecht, is rumored to have already reached an agreement with the Premier League team over personal terms, with a transfer fee of about £30 million also being mentioned.
Despite having already spent £55 million to acquire Mason Mount from rival Chelsea, United is likely to pursue the Moroccan international in an effort to enhance their midfield ranks even more.
At Manchester United, who might Amrabat succeed?
Various reports have indicated that Ten Hag and co are set to move for the 6 foot 1 ace once the likes of Fred and Donny van de Beek have been shipped off to pastures new, with the former Ajax boss needing to make space in his midfield department.
However, those two departing players might not be the only first-team players to suffer as a result of Amrabat’s entry, as the talented Dutchman’s function as a sort of deep-lying playmaker could bode trouble for Christian Eriksen at the Theatre of Dreams.
After joining Manchester on a free transfer last summer, the seasoned Dane had a good first season, recording 10 assists in 44 games across all competitions after settling in well alongside Casemiro at the base of the midfield.
Despite having such a big impact, the 31-year-old did seem a little slow after making a comeback from injury in April. Manchester Evening News writer Samuel Luckhurst noted that the former Tottenham Hotspur player ‘could barely keep up’ when he was up against Manchester City’s midfield in the FA Cup final.
![Ten Hag's Ambitious Move: Man Utd's Bid for 6ft 1 'Monster' Spells Trouble for Eriksen 2 Sofyan Amrabat](https://i0.wp.com/static0.footballfancastimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/amrabat-man-united-eriksen-premier-league-transfer.jpg?resize=1140%2C570&ssl=1)
These flaws appear to have persisted into the preseason, as Luckhurst once more notes that Eriksen “did not have the sharpest of games” in the most recent loss to Real Madrid and that younger, fresher legs like Amrabat may have been required.
Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Carlo Garganese amid his form at last year’s World Cup, the latter man is able to provide a greater defensive presence than that of the current United ace, having averaged two tackles and interceptions per game in 29 Serie A outings last term, while Eriksen averaged just 1.2 in that regard from 28 Premier League appearances.
The fact that Amrabat is in the top 5% among his European counterparts for pass completion and in the top 8% for progressive passes, indicating that he frequently attempts to set up his attack-minded colleagues, is further indication of his talent and poise on the ball.
The former Brentford master only ranks in the bottom 41% for pass completion, having shown himself to be more of a liability on the ball. Eriksen, though, is just slightly behind in the latter category, ranking in the top 9% for advanced passes.
That should suggest that Eriksen may find himself soon demoted down the pecking order if Ten Hag brings in another familiar face in the form of Amrabat.