Manchester United went into the summer transfer window with midfield reinforcements at the top of their ‘to-do’ list.
They have already agreed a £35 million deal for Atalanta star Ederson, but are aiming to bring in at least one more midfielder before the 2026/27 season starts.
Elliot Anderson was touted as a possible target, but the Red Devils have understandably baulked at Nottingham Forest’s excessive asking price.
Mateus Fernandes is reportedly their main target now, although West Ham United’s financial demands are also problematic.
While Anderson and Fernandes are decent midfielders, United would be well advised to target a more cost-effective option this summer.
Sangare’s statistics make him a viable alternative
United are reportedly ‘preparing an offer’ to sign Lens midfielder Mamadou Sangare, and the move would undoubtedly make more sense.
Every 1xbet agent in Somalia will be keeping a close eye on developments, given the influence the 23-year-old could have on United’s future fortunes.
The Mali international’s statistics last season compare favourably with Anderson and Fernandes in most of the key midfield metrics.
Sangare is renowned for winning duels, while his ability to retain possession makes a potential £40m transfer fee look like a steal.
There has been plenty of hype surrounding Anderson, but a £125m asking price is hard to justify when considering what he brings to the table.
It is a similar story with Fernandes, who has been relegated from the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham in the last two seasons.
Fees that are two and three times as much as the figure needed to prise Sangare away from Lens are difficult to justify based on their respective statistical profiles.
Data analyst says Sangare is a ‘nightmare to play against’
Data analyst Bence Bocsak has closely followed Sangare’s progress from his time in Austrian football through to his breakout season in Ligue 1 last term.
He has been hugely impressed with his ability to win back possession for his team, and believes his profile would be ideally suited to the English top flight.
“Sangare is a proper box-to-box midfielder with great dynamism and energy,” he said. “His best strength is his ability to cover a lot of ground. He gets up and down the pitch and is constantly moving.
“He plays a crucial part in keeping Lens a solid unit. But he’s also excellent in the build-up phase. (He) deals well under pressure and isn’t afraid to make long vertical passes.
“He’s a decent ball carrier with great speed and acceleration both with and without the ball. That speed also enables him to press effectively and make frequent interceptions by racing ahead of his opponents to seize a pass intended for them.
“He’s the type of player who is a nightmare to play against. At 23-years-old, I think he’s the type of profile who would thrive in the Premier League in the future. He’s the ideal option for a double pivot or a box-to-box number eight.”
The analysis of Sangare is clearly worth scrutinising, given what Lens achieved with him in the team last season.
They finished second behind big-spending Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and won the French Cup for the first time by defeating Nice 3-1 in the final.
While Lens will be playing in the Champions League next season, Sangare would likely find it difficult to resist the opportunity to play for United.
The Red Devils have previously had their fingers burnt when overpaying for players. Sangare represents a shrewder acquisition in today’s market.
