Despite much fanfare, Sofyan Amrabat has had a mediocre start to life as a Manchester United player which has seen him drop down to the bench. Consequently, his spot in the team has been frequently taken by the much-maligned Scott McTominay.

It all started out so differently for the Moroccan World Cup hero. The midfield general was praised by United fans for his incredible patience to sign for the club despite the interest of many other teams including Premier League rivals Fulham. The player, who claimed to only have eyes for the Red Devils, finally got his dream move from Fiorentina on deadline day.

In fact, arch-rivals Liverpool were also rumoured to be close to securing the services of the World Cup semi-finalist, as a deal was said to be “only hours away”. However, once again Amrabat’s supposed desire for United kept the deal from happening. That is quite a way to endear yourself to Manchester United fans around the globe.

Anyone who was following the Red Devils’ transfer activity on social media during the dying embers of the window would have seen the name Amrabat trending everyday on X. Such a clamour for a player of the Moroccan’s stature is rare. You would have been excused for thinking United were chasing a world-class talent like Kylian Mbappe or Jude Bellingham.

Man United fans got their wish and the man from Morocco was brought in on an initial €10m loan fee with the possibility of a permanent deal for €25m. The excitement probably mainly stemmed from the trending video of Amrabat heroically chasing down Mbappe at the World Cup and producing a monstrous sliding tackle to not only cleanly win the ball, but also continue to drive his team down the pitch by majestically carrying the ball downfield.

Secondly, the shambolic midfield performances versus Wolves on the opening day of the season also led many to doubt the wisdom of an aging Casemiro being the only defensive midfield option at the club.

So, the Moroccan made his much awaited debut vs Burnley in September and had fans excitedly chattering after a “stunning” full debut vs Crystal Palace at home in a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory.

Sadly, and this seems a recurring theme this season, things have only gone downhill since. The man from Huizen has failed to make any real lasting impression on the team. In fact, he has also put in some brutally poor performances. He was hooked at half-time in the Manchester derby and seems a regular candidate for the referee’s notebook. The pace of both the league and Champions League seems too much for the former Fiorentina man at present. Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton claimed the player looked like “a fish out of water” in the team’s 1-0 defeat vs Crystal Palace.

The Peoples Person recently labelled the signing a 1 out 10 so far stating that the midfielder has looked “overawed” and is yet to “find his feet” at the top level.

This lack of impact can be seen in the 10 games he has played in all competitions for the Mancunian side, he has failed to score or register an assist. In fact, the long-range pile driver that rattled the bar against Sheffield United is the only real chance he has had. To be fair, goals and assists should not be the marker of a defensive midfielder. So, let’s delve deeper.

According to Transfermarkt the player has only played more than 45 mins five times in his 10 appearances for the club. Hardly a ringing endorsement from the manager. The team have also lost five games and conceded 16 goals with the Moroccan picking up 3 yellow cards. Not great.

In Amrabat’s defence, it has not been plain sailing for him. The prolonged nature of the transfer meant that the midfielder had not been training with Fiorentina all summer, so effectively had no real pre-season. Furthermore, an injury crisis at his new club saw him play his first few games as a left-back, which is far from his natural position.

Additionally, he has had a revolving door of defensive and midfield partners in a club which is doused in uncertainty. Would anyone really be successful is the question. Lastly, to compound matters, the World Cup star picked up an injury while on international duty, so he has probably not been able to play to his maximum potential.

So what could have gone wrong, has gone wrong. This is the story of the Red Devils’ season. No matter what way you look at it, you cannot sugarcoat it. Amrabat has struggled and doesn’t look good enough. If the season ended tomorrow, the manager would be mad to sanction a permanent move. Luckily for the Moroccan, the season doesn’t end tomorrow. We are only in November and there is ample time to turn it around. Casemiro’s long term injury has also provided him a chance to nail down a more regular starting role in the defensive midfield department. Over to you Sofyan.

The post Sofyan Amrabat’s underwhelming start at Manchester United analysed appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Speaking in the aftermath of the borderline farcical defeat to FC Copenhagen, the Danish striker revealed: “I think everyone in the dressing room is behind him, so I think it’s only a matter of time (before things go our way).”

Though United ultimately lost last night, their defeat came largely at the incompetent hands of the officiating team, rather than anything the opposition did with their feet.

The opening twenty minutes of the match saw Ten Hag’s side take a two-goal lead, courtesy of two predatory finishes by Højlund.

United were in full control at this point with the Dane describing it as “some of the best football we have played this season.”

A series of bizarre VAR interventions then promptly turned the game on its head, with United losing a man, conceding a penalty and being subject to a series of further inexplicable decisions as they eventually ran out 4-3 losers.

A full report on the match can be found here, as well as a breakdown of the individual performances by the United team. Højlund’s efforts were sufficient enough for him to win The Peoples Person’s Man of the Match award.

The defeat left United bottom of their Champions League group, with qualification to the next round looking increasingly unlikely.

This would, in normal circumstances, be sufficient cause for an analysis of how a potential exit from a European competition at the hands of a Danish team may affect a manager’s position.

The decisions in the game were so overwhelmingly poor, however, that no inquest into Ten Hag’s tactics were launched. Indeed, even after his side were reduced to ten men and the Dutchman was able to recalibrate at the half-time interval, United were largely the better side in the second half, despite the numerical disadvantage.

Højlund was quick to praise his manager after the game, underscoring his quality as a coach and how much he has helped the Dane to develop in a short space of time.

“[Ten Hag] is a very good coach who thinks about the smallest details. He helps me a lot and gives me a lot of faith in things and supports me,” the Dane revealed.

Though it has been an undoubtedly disappointing start to the season for Ten Hag and his players, the fact that the Dutchman retains the support of the dressing room will be a key factor in the team turning things around.

A match against Luton at Old Trafford on Saturday appears the perfect place to start.

The post “Everyone is behind him”: Rasmus Højlund backs Erik ten Hag appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.

Sport Witness relays a report by Italian outlet, Inter Live, who suggest United are set to rival Inter Milan for the Iranian international’s signature.

Inter are thought to be “looking for a new striker” with the experienced Porto star top of their list. Taremi had previously been linked with United in the summer, suggesting he’s a player Old Trafford officials have had on their radar for some time now. 

With good reason.

Taremi scored twenty-two goals in Portugal last season, with a further five in seven Champions League games. The season prior, he scored twenty league goals. Across these two years Taremi also provided nineteen assists, indicating he’s a forward as capable of creating, as well as finishing, chances.

This season has seen a slight downturn in productivity, with the Iranian only returning three goals and three assists in fourteen games. This would still be more goals than all of United’s forwards (bar Højlund) combined, however.

And it’s the Danish striker who appears to be primary consideration of Old Trafford officials’ interest in Taremi.

Erik ten Hag is reported to want an “experienced centre-forward” in the January window, to help “lighten the load of responsibility” on his young striker.

Højlund has started virtually every game since his delayed introduction, working tirelessly in and out of possession.

Five goals in four Champions League games indicates his ruthlessness in front of goal, but he is yet to score domestically. The complete absence of creativity amongst his team-mates is the root cause of this drought, however.

When Højlund left the pitch last night against FC Copenhagen, the game proceeded to very quickly swing in the opposition’s favour. The Dane’s physicality offered a consistent outlet for his teammates, and he was constantly harassing the Copenhagen defenders.

Mason Mount, brought on in his stead, could not offer remotely the same threat, though it’s unfair to ask a diminutive attacking midfielder to lead the line for a team with ten men. The natural replacement for Højlund – Anthony Martial – continues to be an irrelevant member of the squad, with the club though to be open to his departure in January.

As such, the reported interest of United in Taremi makes sense. A figure of €10m is suggested as the fee required to secure the 31-year old’s services.

With Højlund being the lone bright spot in the United attacking unit this season, any efforts that can be made to help preserve his brightness should be made.

The post Manchester United linked with January move for Mehdi Taremi appeared first on Man United News And Transfer News | The Peoples Person.