It’s been no secret that the Blades are wanting to bring in a new left sided centre back.
I’ve looked at the data of hundreds of left footed defenders who fit the criteria of what United might be looking for as well as only including players might be able to attract to the club should they be interested. I’ve then whittled it down to 8 players and will now cut these down into five options where I will choose the best players to fit into each category. All data sets are from a minimum of around 2000 minutes at least, from last season.
Best attacking option - Hiroki Ito
Value - £10m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £22k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2025
Age - 24
Height - 6ft 2in
Nationality - Japanese
Languages spoke - Japanese & German
Formations most common in - 343
Longest time out injured - Ten days
Stats best in per 90 mins - Progressive passes (5.55), expected assisted goals (0.07), key passes (0.7), passes into final 3rd (4.99), crosses (1.86), shot creating actions (1.72), shot creating actions from live play (1.12), errors (0), carries into final third (0.95)
Characteristics - Likes to cross, likes to play long balls and switch play, will hold onto the ball, strong passer, very quick, reads the game well, comfortable on right side
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - Ito is a really accomplished, forward thinking defender and has improved in all aspects of his game year on year. He’s been capped by Japan and already picked up around 5000 minutes in the Bundesliga. Tottenham and Napoli have been rumoured to have been interested in him and is supposedly available for around £9m. He can play at centre half or at wing back as well so his versatility is another strength. Stuttgart don’t need to get rid but could the lure of Premier League football tempt Ito to try and force his way out. He’s at a really good age, got a high ceiling of the level he can get too, is familiar with the formation we play and got the skill set to really flourish in the wide centre back role we would deploy him in. Could a loan with sizeable transfer option (as we had planned with Szalai) be achieved. Its one I would really like to see.
Best defensive option - Marco Friedl
Value - £7m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £14k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2026
Age - 25
Height - 6ft 2in
Nationality - Austrian
Languages spoke - German & English
Formations most common in - 352
Longest time out injured - One month
Stats best in per 90 mins - Passes into penalty area (0.62), crosses into penalty area (0.21), dribblers tackled (1.42), dribblers challenged (2.36), clearances (4.41), ball recoveries (8.57)
Charateristics - Likes to play long balls, likes to tackle, good anticipation to intercept, will hold onto the ball, poor discipline, good anticipation, composed in possession
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - While Friedl is definitely the most accomplished defender out of these five players, he can still impact play moving forward. Just coming off the back of another decent season in the Bundesliga where he’s played on the left of a back three so again wouldn’t be unfamiliar in our formation. Knows the language so would hope he could fit into the group as well. Has international experience and is the captain of Werder Bremen. Again, not in a position where they have to sell but would be interesting to see if he could be tempted to England.
Best loan option - Auston Trusty
Value - £10m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £14k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2026
Age - 24
Height - 6ft 3in
Nationality - American
Languages spoke - English & Spanish
Formations most common in - 4231
Longest time out injured - None
Stats best in per 90 mins - Errors (0)
Characteristics - Likes to tackle, likes to dribble, safe passer, fairly quick, reads game well
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - In terms of statistics, Trusty isn’t the highest in many of these percentiles but he really is a solid well rounded option that we could do worse then. He just won supporters player of the year on loan at Birmingham and is currently with Arsenal on their pre-season tour in America where he has featured. The Gunners now have Gabriel, Kiwior and Trusty who are left footed centre backs, Saliba, Holding, Timber can all play there as well so wouldn’t be surprised if they let him out on loan again this season where logical a loan higher up the pyramid would make sense. A loan with an option to buy should he be a success could be a decent option!
Best cheap option - Stanley Nsoki
Value - £5.5m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £22k) (Capology)
Contract expires - 2027
Age - 24
Height - 6ft
Nationality - French
Languages spoke - French & Dutch
Formations most common in - 352
Longest time out injured - One month
Stats best in per 90 mins - Errors (0), take ons attempted (1.47), successful take ons (0.84)
Characteristics - Likes to dribble, likes to play short passes, quick, confident in possession
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - Really good dribbler of the ball, a strong physical profile and good recovery speed. French speaking so would be able to speak to and be in groups of our squad while he learnt English. He has Champions League and Europa League experience and at a good age where he can improve and develop. Only featured in four of Hoffenheims last fourteen games, and with them supposedly interested in Altar Szalai, he might find minutes few and far between this season. Has been rumoured to lack concentration or discipline at times, but if United could extract his key qualities on a consistent scale there’s certainly a very good player there.
Best well rounded option - Nicolas Diaz Huincales
Value - £3m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £7k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2025
Age - 24
Height - 5ft 11in
Nationality - Chilean
Languages spoke - Spanish
Formations most common in - 532 & 4231
Longest time out injured - None
Stats best in per 90 mins - Progressive carries (1.32), progressive passes received (1.32), tackles won (1.74), interceptions (2.37), Tackles+Interceptions (5.29), touches in the attacking third (6.33), aerials won (70%)
Characteristics - Likes to dribble, likes to get forward, likes to tackle, uses his body well, aggressive & determined
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - One player that I’m sure few will know much about but one that has really impressed in his time in Mexico. A Chilean international who is able to play at centre back and wing back, Diaz is someone who doesn’t hesitate to get forward but also anticipates danger really well while not letting attackers who are bigger than him beat him in the air that often. His dataset does come from a lesser quality league, but he is a quality player that stands out in it.
Overall, with the success the teams scouting department had in bringing in Ahmedhodzic last season, I don’t doubt for a second who United will bring in won’t be unable to do the role that we expect from our outside centre backs. For what it’s worth, my pick of the bunch would be Hiroki Ito, a very good price for a very good player at both sides of the game, we could either set ourselves up for that position for the next few years with signing him or make a profit should he be a success.
If anyone wants to know the data criteria I highlighted while researching for this position I’ll be happy to share. As I mentioned I had a look at quite a few left footed defenders, if anyone has a player not on this list and wants to know why they aren’t on then let me know who you think should be on here.
I’ve looked at the data of hundreds of left footed defenders who fit the criteria of what United might be looking for as well as only including players might be able to attract to the club should they be interested. I’ve then whittled it down to 8 players and will now cut these down into five options where I will choose the best players to fit into each category. All data sets are from a minimum of around 2000 minutes at least, from last season.
Best attacking option - Hiroki Ito
Value - £10m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £22k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2025
Age - 24
Height - 6ft 2in
Nationality - Japanese
Languages spoke - Japanese & German
Formations most common in - 343
Longest time out injured - Ten days
Stats best in per 90 mins - Progressive passes (5.55), expected assisted goals (0.07), key passes (0.7), passes into final 3rd (4.99), crosses (1.86), shot creating actions (1.72), shot creating actions from live play (1.12), errors (0), carries into final third (0.95)
Characteristics - Likes to cross, likes to play long balls and switch play, will hold onto the ball, strong passer, very quick, reads the game well, comfortable on right side
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - Ito is a really accomplished, forward thinking defender and has improved in all aspects of his game year on year. He’s been capped by Japan and already picked up around 5000 minutes in the Bundesliga. Tottenham and Napoli have been rumoured to have been interested in him and is supposedly available for around £9m. He can play at centre half or at wing back as well so his versatility is another strength. Stuttgart don’t need to get rid but could the lure of Premier League football tempt Ito to try and force his way out. He’s at a really good age, got a high ceiling of the level he can get too, is familiar with the formation we play and got the skill set to really flourish in the wide centre back role we would deploy him in. Could a loan with sizeable transfer option (as we had planned with Szalai) be achieved. Its one I would really like to see.
Best defensive option - Marco Friedl
Value - £7m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £14k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2026
Age - 25
Height - 6ft 2in
Nationality - Austrian
Languages spoke - German & English
Formations most common in - 352
Longest time out injured - One month
Stats best in per 90 mins - Passes into penalty area (0.62), crosses into penalty area (0.21), dribblers tackled (1.42), dribblers challenged (2.36), clearances (4.41), ball recoveries (8.57)
Charateristics - Likes to play long balls, likes to tackle, good anticipation to intercept, will hold onto the ball, poor discipline, good anticipation, composed in possession
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - While Friedl is definitely the most accomplished defender out of these five players, he can still impact play moving forward. Just coming off the back of another decent season in the Bundesliga where he’s played on the left of a back three so again wouldn’t be unfamiliar in our formation. Knows the language so would hope he could fit into the group as well. Has international experience and is the captain of Werder Bremen. Again, not in a position where they have to sell but would be interesting to see if he could be tempted to England.
Best loan option - Auston Trusty
Value - £10m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £14k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2026
Age - 24
Height - 6ft 3in
Nationality - American
Languages spoke - English & Spanish
Formations most common in - 4231
Longest time out injured - None
Stats best in per 90 mins - Errors (0)
Characteristics - Likes to tackle, likes to dribble, safe passer, fairly quick, reads game well
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - In terms of statistics, Trusty isn’t the highest in many of these percentiles but he really is a solid well rounded option that we could do worse then. He just won supporters player of the year on loan at Birmingham and is currently with Arsenal on their pre-season tour in America where he has featured. The Gunners now have Gabriel, Kiwior and Trusty who are left footed centre backs, Saliba, Holding, Timber can all play there as well so wouldn’t be surprised if they let him out on loan again this season where logical a loan higher up the pyramid would make sense. A loan with an option to buy should he be a success could be a decent option!
Best cheap option - Stanley Nsoki
Value - £5.5m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £22k) (Capology)
Contract expires - 2027
Age - 24
Height - 6ft
Nationality - French
Languages spoke - French & Dutch
Formations most common in - 352
Longest time out injured - One month
Stats best in per 90 mins - Errors (0), take ons attempted (1.47), successful take ons (0.84)
Characteristics - Likes to dribble, likes to play short passes, quick, confident in possession
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - Really good dribbler of the ball, a strong physical profile and good recovery speed. French speaking so would be able to speak to and be in groups of our squad while he learnt English. He has Champions League and Europa League experience and at a good age where he can improve and develop. Only featured in four of Hoffenheims last fourteen games, and with them supposedly interested in Altar Szalai, he might find minutes few and far between this season. Has been rumoured to lack concentration or discipline at times, but if United could extract his key qualities on a consistent scale there’s certainly a very good player there.
Best well rounded option - Nicolas Diaz Huincales
Value - £3m (Transfermarkt)
Wage - £7k (Capology)
Contract expires - 2025
Age - 24
Height - 5ft 11in
Nationality - Chilean
Languages spoke - Spanish
Formations most common in - 532 & 4231
Longest time out injured - None
Stats best in per 90 mins - Progressive carries (1.32), progressive passes received (1.32), tackles won (1.74), interceptions (2.37), Tackles+Interceptions (5.29), touches in the attacking third (6.33), aerials won (70%)
Characteristics - Likes to dribble, likes to get forward, likes to tackle, uses his body well, aggressive & determined
Youtube compilation -
Opinion - One player that I’m sure few will know much about but one that has really impressed in his time in Mexico. A Chilean international who is able to play at centre back and wing back, Diaz is someone who doesn’t hesitate to get forward but also anticipates danger really well while not letting attackers who are bigger than him beat him in the air that often. His dataset does come from a lesser quality league, but he is a quality player that stands out in it.
Overall, with the success the teams scouting department had in bringing in Ahmedhodzic last season, I don’t doubt for a second who United will bring in won’t be unable to do the role that we expect from our outside centre backs. For what it’s worth, my pick of the bunch would be Hiroki Ito, a very good price for a very good player at both sides of the game, we could either set ourselves up for that position for the next few years with signing him or make a profit should he be a success.
If anyone wants to know the data criteria I highlighted while researching for this position I’ll be happy to share. As I mentioned I had a look at quite a few left footed defenders, if anyone has a player not on this list and wants to know why they aren’t on then let me know who you think should be on here.