Manchester United have been linked with a move for £60m Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi recently, and the Morocco international could be a game-changing addition to Erik ten Hag’s side.
It was reported by journalist Jacque Talbot earlier this month that the 52-year-old was keen on bringing the former Real Madrid man to Old Trafford, as he looks to forefront a revolution with the Premier League giants.
The report claims that Hakimi would be a costly option for the Red Devils but Ten Hag ‘really likes’ him, and considering the quality of United’s current right-backs, the 23-year-old could be well worth the investment.
Neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot contributed a single goal or assist in the Premier League last season, which emphasises their limitations in attack.
On the other hand, Hakimi contributed four goals and six assists for PSG in just 32 league appearances in 2021/22, averaging a solid 6.93 rating from WhoScored for his performances.
After the Moroccan starred for Inter, Brazil icon Ronaldo was full of praise for Hakimi, dubbing him an “extraordinary player“, and United could be the latest club to benefit from Real Madrid’s mistake in letting him go.
Should United try and sign Hakimi?
Yes
No
The 23-year-old has been superb in spells at Borussia Dortmund and Inter, having been deemed surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu. If he were to make the move to Old Trafford, he could be part of Ten Hag’s attempts to revolutionise the Red Devils’ defence.
The new United manager has already signed Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez this summer as he looks to improve on a back four which conceded a shocking 57 goals in the top flight last season.
Hakimi would also drastically improve United’s right-hand side going forward, emphasised by the fact that he ranked in the 99th percentile for pass completion and the 94th percentile for progressive passes last season among positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues.
He could re-establish an excellent partnership with Sancho having played alongside him at Dortmund, and he is certainly a big fan of the England international.
Hakimi praised the United winger in 2019, saying: “I think you’ve already seen he’s a great player. I’m a big fan of his, of how he plays, how he dribbles, the ease he has when one-on-one.
“He’s still young like me, we’ve got to keep working every day, learn everything we can, and I think if he continues like this then he’s going to have a really good career. As well as being teammates, we get on really well in the changing room and we share a number of things.”
Therefore, Ten Hag should do everything he can to bring in Hakimi this summer, as the Moroccan could help to reignite the Red Devils and push them back into title contention.
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