Manchester United have Max Aarons on their radar as they are in the hunt for a new right-back this summer. Ralf Rangnick revealed that the Red Devils require a full squad upheaval to become competitive again.
The right-back position is a key area for United to work on. Aaron Wan-Bissaka has failed to perform at the expected level, and Diogo Dalot will need an upgrade. Reports suggest that the 2008 Champions League winners are interested in procuring the services of Max Aarons. Currently associated with Norwich City, Aarons is contracted until 2024. However, the Canaries look destined to drop back into the Championship for next season.
Since making his debut in 2018, Aarons has been a regular with Norwich City. Racking up over 13,000 minutes over 4 seasons, the full-back has 5 goals and 14 assists to his name (stats via transfermarkt). Aarons stayed loyal to Norwich when they were relegated in the 2019-20 season. The 22-year-old has already played over 150 games for the Canaries. However, United could pry away the youngster this summer.
Manchester United are front-runners in the race to sign Max Aarons and will have to pay around £20m to complete the transfer. However, big names from outside England, like Barcelona and Bayern Munich, are also following the Englishman’s situation. Does he fit the profile United requires?
Player Profile:
Manchester United’s wingers generally prefer to play in the half-spaces. Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, and Anthony Elanga are more effective closer to the goal. Therefore, United have often needed a right-back to maintain the width and be more involved in the final third.
Norwich City rank 15th in the Premier League for possession. This means the Canaries spend more time defending than attacking. Naturally, this will inhibit the possibilities for full-backs to access attacking areas of the field regularly.
Let us see how effective Aarons is when he does have the ball in the final third.
Evidently, Aarons isn’t that influential in the final third. But when we take into consideration that Norwich City’s system itself does not depend heavily on full-backs for chance creation, it seems unfair to write off Aarons’ creative abilities.
Instead, we will look at how progressive Aarons is as a player.
Aarons is better as a ball carrier than as a passer. He also averages 5.2 progressive carries and 1.07 successful dribbled every 90 minutes. As a passing outlet, the 22-year-old is not as effective. This makes the full-back more predictable in possession.
Defending undoubtedly is an important factor United should consider. The Red Devils have been woeful at the back this season, and desperately need a player to pull the strings at the back.
Aarons is a wily defender, and hard to dribble past. However, the Englishman is not a dominant presence, in the air or on the ground. Ten Hag implements a possession-based style of football reliant on counter-pressing to regain possession. His defenders need to be strong in the air or quick to second balls to prevent counter-attacks. Aarons does not particularly excel in either field.
Read More:
- Man United Reportedly Keen on Signing £63m Rated La Liga Star as Instructed by Erik Ten Hag
- With Erik ten Hag at the Helm, Here are Three Core Issues for him to Address Immediately Next Season
- Manchester United Working on a Deal to Sign £45m Rated Premier League Midfield
Verdict:
Max Aarons is a good player, especially for the quoted value but, at the moment, Manchester United need a proven world-class star. Aarons has edges to his game that need sharpening, and would not serve as a major upgrade over Dalot. The Red Devils should continue their search for a full-back elsewhere. The club can consider options like Nordi Mukiele and Noussair Mazraoui.
Who should United sign for the right-back position? Would Max Aarons be a good signing? Let us know in the comments.
Follow AD for the Latest Transfer Updates for Manchester United.
