Sofyan Amrabat, a Moroccan midfielder, joined Manchester United to cap off a successful summer for the club.
It was the culmination of a busy deadline day for the Red Devils, who also signed Jonny Evans to a new one-year contract and welcomed Sergio Reguilon inside.
Amrabat isn’t match-ready and isn’t expected to play against Arsenal on Sunday. Reguilon, though, might get his first start and will be hoping his links with Spurs pay off against the north Londoners.
Why was Sergio Reguilon acquired by Man United?Even when Reguilon turns out to be a good signing, you might look back on it in a few years as a panic signing.On second thought, however, this is a wise choice. Purchased on a loan, the arrangement may be terminated in January if United appears to be better equipped at left-back.There aren’t many options in that part of the field, which is the main justification for his signing. Both Tyrell Malacia and Luke Shaw are hurt, with the Englishman perhaps missing a few months due to a muscular issue.
Reguilon participated in Tottenham’s preseason, but he hasn’t appeared on the pitch in the Premier League yet this season, so starting him against the Gunners may be a baptism of fire.Lisandro Martinez is able to play left-back.Martinez has made 12 appearances on the left side of defense throughout his club career, scoring three goals in the process.He’s not very comfortable with the job, but given his football IQ and his propensity for playing aggressively, he could easily own it.However, since the 2020–21 Ajax season, the £37 million defender hasn’t actually played in that position.
In that season, he did it seven times, even using that position to score twice in the Eredivisie.Martinez has only appeared there once more when representing Defensa y Justica in his native country.For the aforementioned season, the 25-year-old was ranked against center-backs, but he showed why he’d be such a terrific left-back choice.The Argentinean international had 1.54 shots per 90 minutes, which put him in the top 1% of center backs in the Dutch top division for the entire 2020–21 season, according to FBref. The World Cup champion also made 1.74 shot-creating actions every 90, which put him in the top 5%, and 1.23 successful takedowns during that time, which put him in the top 2%.
Martinez, who Scott Saunders of 90min dubbed a “monster” for his efforts last season, possesses some surprise skills in the last third. He has a reputation for being a bulldog at the back but is calm while in possession and could benefit from playing a temporary left-sided position. He might be the physical challenge the Arsenal star despises against Bukayo Saka as well.
Therefore, who would replace Victor Lindelof as the center-back? Harry Maguire would most likely get a rare chance to start.That could spook Man United fans, but it’s a strategy to take into account if Ten Hag thinks Reguilon isn’t quite ready to start yet.