Your Hidden Gems or under the radar - Wanted Signings

I think he's injured and might miss the games against us but Malick Fofana looks a talent from Lyon.
 
criticalanalysis said:
How good is he really? Not watched much of Bournemouth but saw the Spain Netherlands game in the background and when he played against us. He looks decent for a 19 year old playing at the highest level i.e doesn't look overawed but nothing screams elite? With his athletic profile and technical ability, he could be promising but it could be also be another Christensen situation.

I'd say the same about Yoro too, although a little less tentatively.

Both would need to show some serious physical growth (muscle density, core strength etc) ala Saliba before I would start getting too hyped on them.
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I'm hardly a scout but he would be awesome as the left sided CB for us, and would be a significant upgrade on Lisandro.

He never looks bothered really, like one of those weirdos that would come out later and say he doesn't like football and never watches it etc. He looks like he spends his free time skateboarding, or chilling at the beach. But he's quality on the ball and appears to have a good passing range, and his defending is excellent. And he's not even twenty.
 
Sea-Cow said:
I'm hardly a scout but he would be awesome as the left sided CB for us, and would be a significant upgrade on Lisandro.

He never looks bothered really, like one of those weirdos that would come out later and say he doesn't like football and never watches it etc. He looks like he spends his free time skateboarding, or chilling at the beach. But he's quality on the ball and appears to have a good passing range, and his defending is excellent. And he's not even twenty.
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And in comparison to Yoro, as others have already said Huijsen looks like he barely breaks a sweat out there in the Prem, and occasionally Yoro gets rinsed and looks like it might be a step too far for him right now, at this age. Which, to be fair, is understandable!

And it could also have something to do with the team around them and their defensive partners, midfield cover, etc. etc. Because the other Bournemouth CB is that tough looking Ukrainian bastard who is not too bad himself, while Yoro could be next to Big Harry one day or Lisandro, with Onana behind him.... Not exactly apples to apples.
 
Sea-Cow said:
I'm hardly a scout but he would be awesome as the left sided CB for us, and would be a significant upgrade on Lisandro.

He never looks bothered really, like one of those weirdos that would come out later and say he doesn't like football and never watches it etc. He looks like he spends his free time skateboarding, or chilling at the beach. But he's quality on the ball and appears to have a good passing range, and his defending is excellent. And he's not even twenty.
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He can actually play in any role in a back 3. His talent ceiling is mind boggling. I personally expect Real Madrid to bag him in the summer.
 
WouterWeghorst said:
This is totally ruining football for me. Multi club ownership signing every single player on the planet and just moving players about at one point.
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Yes its becoming a bit of a joke. I have no problem with clubs having feeder clubs in the lower leagues or like we did with Royal Antwerp . If you loaning out lads from the academy its a smart move. But this signing players to stop others and then letting waste away on loan is shite for player and future of football
 
My hidden gem or under the radar list would be (in the positions I'd say are the top priorities):
- ST: Josh Sargent (25). Proven himself over three seasons playing for Norwich in the Championship. A well rounded striker. Better goals/per min ratio then Gyokeres in the same league for reference.
- CM: Hayden Hackney (22). Best playmaker in the Championship. A new Carrick (playing under Carrick at Middlesbrough).
- CM: Sergi Altimira (23). Only his second season in the top flight of spanish footbal, but a regular for Betis now. Solid passer and technically sound, good defensively and would raise the physicality of our team. Reminiscent of Rodri.
- RWB: Tom Fellows (21). Two footed, good crosser and a good dribbler, has pace and a good frame. Primarily played right mid/winger so would need some adaptation, but played fullback in League Two a couple of seasons ago.. 11 assists for West Brom this season.
 
userman said:
My hidden gem or under the radar list would be (in the positions I'd say are the top priorities):
- ST: Josh Sargent (25). Proven himself over three seasons playing for Norwich in the Championship. A well rounded striker. Better goals/per min ratio then Gyokeres in the same league for reference.
- CM: Hayden Hackney (22). Best playmaker in the Championship. A new Carrick (playing under Carrick at Middlesbrough).
- CM: Sergi Altimira (23). Only his second season in the top flight of spanish footbal, but a regular for Betis now. Solid passer and technically sound, good defensively and would raise the physicality of our team. Reminiscent of Rodri.
- RWB: Tom Fellows (21). Two footed, good crosser and a good dribbler, has pace and a good frame. Primarily played right mid/winger so would need some adaptation, but played fullback in League Two a couple of seasons ago.. 11 assists for West Brom this season.
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IMHO Hackney should be in the must buy category. He will be cheap. Is built for epl football. Plus has been coached by Carrick how to play center holding midfield
 
I still think Malik Tillman (22 Y, PSV) will be great additional talent who offer versatility no matter in 8, 6, or Left 10 positions.
He did well almost every positions both in the Eredivisie and Champion league.

In addition, Lennon Miller (18 Y, Motherwell) is another young talent that it might be worth to take the risk.
He's 8, 6, 10 who excel well in those positions and show very good promise despite of young age.
 
So I've posted in the Hidden Gems thread that United should be seriously looking at signing Kevin Lopes who plays as a left winger for Shakthar Donesk and over the last number of months my conviction has only gotten stronger. I work in football data/analytics and to me he's by far the most standout option for United at the left 10 given his profile of age/ability/availability and potential. He's already better than any winger United have on the books and that's including Rashford/Sancho/Antony etc

I've spent the last couple of days watching all of his champions league games for Shakthar and made a compilation of his play, unfortunately I couldn't find the game vs Arsenal as this was copyrighted but opponents are: Bayern/PSV/Brest/Young Boys/Atalanta/Dortmund. I've tried to pick clips that highlight every area of his game from pressing opposition defenders, receiving the ball into space/running behind defensive line, receiving the ball into feet and taking on defenders, crossing left foot and right as well as goal scoring.

I know some posters will say anyone can look good in a highlight reel but bear in mind that the entire reel is taken from just 6 games and statistically he's incredibly impressive.

He's the #1 dribbler in the champions league this season with 5.1 per game, for comparison Garnacho averages 1.3 while Rashford is 1.6. Most elite level dribblers complete around 50%+ of dribble attempts (general guideline in analytics) Doku who is the best dribbler in the premier league averages 52%, Kevin is 59%. For comparison Garnacho is 33% and Rashford is 40%

In the Ukrainian league he has averaged 6.4 dribbles per game, Willian averaged 3.5 when he played for Shakhtar and Douglas Costa averaged 4.

He's 99th percentile for: Goals, Successful take ons, Carries into penalty area/progressive carries/non penalty goals

90+ percentile for: Goals+ assists, Through balls, crosses into penalty area, progressive carrying distance, shots on target/fouls drawn.

United rank 19th in the premier league from chances created from take ons. We went from being an average side in this department with Rashford/Sancho etc to a relegation level team. Which is a large part of why we struggle so badly to score goals and why our strikers have such poor returns.

It simply won't be possible to replicate Amorim's Sporting style without at least 1 winger with this type of profile because that team had the #1 and #2 most creative forwards in Portugal playing alongside Gyokeres. With Rashford/Sancho and Antony all gone and none expected to return this position has to be priority #1 for United, and Kevin is an exceptional talent who would be a massive addition to any top team in Europe.

Take a look and let me know what you think.

 
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Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber said:
His numbers are still impressive numbers for a guy supposedly having a bad season.
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Alright, I’ve just checked. My info is outdated, apologies. The Boro fans were panning him about 3 months ago when I last checked. Apparently he’s been bossing it since then and the general view is that he is a great player (PL suited for sure but maybe not top 6 worthy) who was a victim of Boro’s strange start to the season.
 
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