The 2023/24 season was not easy for Manchester United. Erik ten Hag’s side currently sit sixth in the Premier League with 54 points, although they are mathematically out of contention for a place in the top four.
It’s also been a tough season for some players in United’s squad. Marcus Rashford is a man who has struggled to find his best form. He has scored just seven goals and provided two assists in 31 Premier League games, a significant drop from last season when he scored 17 league goals.
There is little doubt about Rashford’s abilities when he is at his best. As the statistics show, he is one of the most dangerous wingers and has scored 131 goals for Manchester United and 64 assists in 399 games. In one-on-one situations, Rashford is lethal as he uses his strength and skill to beat a defender and charge into space.
The England international is an explosive player who enjoys shooting from distance into the box, which Fbref says is evidenced by the fact that he makes his most average touches in the box. His 5.72 penalty area touches per 90 minutes last season put him in the top 18% of wingers in the Premier League.
He does his best work with a center forward who can drop deep and pull defenders away to create space, just like Anthony Martial has done so well in his career. Perhaps this is one of the reasons for Rashford’s difficult season. Rasmus Hojlund is not so good at this and often operates in the same areas that Rashford would ideally play.
With Rashford having had poor form so far this season, there are reports that he could leave United in the summer. The Telegraph’s James Ducker broke the news last Monday that the Red Devils are willing to listen to offers for any player, including Rashford.
Despite David Ornstein of The Athletic In stating that United are likely to keep Rashford, there have been reports linking INEOS with some of Europe’s best wingers who could prove to be replacements for the United academy graduate.
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Nico Williams – Athletic Club
The first option United have to replace Rashford is exciting winger Nico Williams from Athletic Club. According to UtdDistrict, the 21-year-old is a target for the Red Devils this summer and has a release clause of £43m, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The youngster is having a great season so far: in La Liga he scored four goals and assisted eight. In just six Copa del Rey games, he scored three goals and provided five assists on the way to winning the cup. This is the best goal participation of his career to date, showing rapid improvement in his game.
In terms of his profile, Williams is fast and a sensational one-on-one dribbler. According to Fbref, the 21-year-old is averaging 5.56 progressive runs per 90 minutes and 2.55 runs into the box per 90 minutes, both of which place him in the top 4% of La Liga wingers.
These are better than Rashford’s running figures, with United’s number 10 averaging 2.66 progressive runs and 1.72 runs into the box per 90 minutes. That being said, United have far more possession and far less attacking space than Bilbao, meaning their numbers are bound to take a hit.
Williams has often played on the right wing for Athletic Club despite being right-footed. This means that a move to the left wing wouldn’t be too much of a problem and would make him less predictable as he is confident on both feet and therefore capable of playing as a full-back or centre-back.
Williams would certainly be a smart option for United given his tremendous carrying capacity, two-footedness and age profile. At just £43million he could be on his way to Old Trafford this summer should Rashford leave.
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Rafael Leao – AC Milan
United’s second option is AC Milan and Portuguese winger Rafael Leao. The 24-year-old is a target for United according to TEAMtalk and could cost around £85m according to Goal.com.
The Portugal international is having a somewhat disappointing season himself by his usual standards. He has scored double figures in goals and assists over the last two seasons, but Leao has scored seven goals and provided eight assists in 30 Serie A games so far this season.
Stylistically, Leao resembles Rashford, an explosive winger who loves to shoot from the outfield into the box. According to Fbref, he averages 2.84 runs into the box per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 1% of Serie A wingers.
Leao is also an excellent creator in the final third. He shoots an average of 2.22 penalty area passes per 90 minutes and 2.14 key passes per 90 minutes. This puts him in the top 2% and 16% respectively. In contrast, Rashford averaged 1.66 passes into the box per 90 minutes last season, placing him in the top 23%.
While Leao is undoubtedly an excellent winger, it perhaps seems a bit strange to sell Marcus Rashford and bring in an equally if not more expensive replacement who has a very similar profile. He would be a good addition for United, but it doesn’t seem like the most sensible deal for the Red Devils.
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Vinicius Junior – Real Madrid
The final option United could have is Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who is perhaps the best left winger in the world. According to reports in Spain, United are one of three clubs interested in signing the Brazilian star. but other reports suggest it could cost a whopping £130million.
In terms of pure output, Vini’s numbers from 2023/24 are impeccable. He has 13 goals and five assists in just 23 La Liga games after being injured for part of the season. He is also involved in one goal per game in the Champions League, with three goals and four assists in seven appearances.
As far as wingers go, Vini is the complete player. The 23-year-old is quick and uses his pace to great effect, making him a deadly ball carrier. According to Fbref, he averages 6.10 progressive runs per 90 minutes, 3.84 runs into the box and 3.30 runs into the final third. This puts him in the top 1% of positionally similar players in Europe in the first two statistics and in the top 3% in the second statistic.
Creatively, Vini is outstanding, averaging 1.57 final third passes per 90 minutes and 1.35 key passes per 90 minutes, putting him in the top 20% and top 16% of strikers in La Liga this season.
It’s fair to say that the Brazil international is one of the best in the world. His manager Carlo Ancelotti is convinced of thisHe said last year: “For me, Vinicius Junior is the best player in the world.” He puts up elite goal participation numbers and his underlying stats are phenomenal. Should Kylian Mbappe move to Real Madrid, there may be a chance for a club to sign Vini this summer, although £130m is a lot of money.
That being said, United could very well keep Rashford. After all, he is clearly a great winger who is currently having an off-season and it seems ridiculous that the club would sell such a wonderful talent who epitomizes the club when he would like to stay at Old Trafford next season.
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