In the second half of the season, Manchester United will be itching to make up for their unimpressive start.

When they visit Spurs in the Premier League on Sunday, Erik ten Hag’s club will have the chance to accomplish this.

After 20 games, the Red Devils are ranked seventh, thus the former Ajax manager will want to strengthen his team in January.

Most recent Man Utd transfer: Youssouf Fofana

Man United is reportedly interested in signing Youssouf Fofana, according to sources from Spain.

Premier League of France’s Youssouf Fana
The 25-year-old midfielder is thought to be the ideal successor for Sofyan Amrabat, who has had difficulty adjusting this year.

Due to United’s stringent financial fair play regulations, a move for Fofana is unlikely this winter unless significant sales can be made, given his estimated £26 million value, according to CIES Football Observatory.

Timo Werner from Real Madrid
The way Youssouf Fofana plays

On his debut in 2015, 19-year-old Anthony Martial scored a goal against bitter rivals Liverpool to introduce himself to United supporters.

He endured injury problems during his time in Manchester, but when he was well, he was unquestionably a fantastic player. After 317 games, the France attacker has 90 goals and 55 assists while wearing a United shirt.

Although Martial reportedly arrived from France via Monaco for about £50 million including bonuses, that money hasn’t gone to waste. The Old Trafford team plans to sign Fofana, who may also take the 28-year-old’s route from Stade Louis II to the Premier League, in an attempt to replicate Martial’s masterclass.

Man, Martial, Monaco, United Van, Gaal
The Ligue 1 powerhouse has established himself as a vital member of Monaco’s squad, appearing in 16 games and even helping to score four goals. Football journalist Ben Mattinson calls Fofana a “game changer,” and his signing would significantly improve United’s performance levels. Fofana is a versatile midfielder who is incredibly complete.

His profile is highlighted in the table below, which shows statistics from the best European leagues over the past year.

Fofana’s Statistics

Statistics (per 90)

Fofana

The percentile

carries progressive

2.37

top sixteen percent

advancing passes

7.83

Top 9%

enters the final third

5.97

top sixteen percent

completed passes

47.59

upper 32%

Interceptions

1.76

Top 6%

Ball retrievals

8.28

Top 4%

Statistics through FBref

Although Fofana is a physically strong midfielder who can cover distance quickly, he is equally adept at playing defence and with the ball at his feet. The France ace’s passing and bally carrying numbers demonstrate how technically sound he is and how much he enjoys influencing the game during the buildup.

Because of their struggles to dominate the game in the middle of the park—as demonstrated by Scott McTominay, who ranks in the lowest 9% of Premier League players for passes attempted, according to FBref—United finds him especially appealing.

The former Strasbourg player is incredibly smart and skilled at reading the game. This allows him to intercept the ball regularly and respond first to pick up any loose balls, which would not only give Ten Hag’s squad better control but also make them less vulnerable to counterattacks.

All things considered, Fofana is the ideal fit for United, and because the team needs to sign another star from Monaco, he might be the answer to some of their issues.