Who should Manchester United replace Paul Pogba with?
It’s been the story that has been circling around Old Trafford for the last 3 years, will Pogba stay at Manchester United? With 1 year left on his contract, you would think the club would have re-signed a player of Pogba’s caliber by now. However, what has been all too common, Pogba has not extended his contract while his agent has created far too many headlines about potential clubs interested in Paul.
For me, if Pogba wanted to stay then he would’ve extended his contract at the end of the 2019–20 season when United qualified for the Champions League and they finished 3rd. That would have shown confidence in manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as well as confidence in the team that they were heading in the right direction.
United are in a difficult situation as is, with Pogba looking to run down his contract. For me, this has to be sorted as soon as possible, because with a player that has as much quality as him, we should never be looking to sell him for nothing. Cash in for him now and then find a replacement.
But that’s easier said than done. Pogba is a specific kind of midfielder, who usually operated on the left hand side of the double pivot in Solskjaer’s 4–2–3–1 system. There’s no question about Pogba’s ability; he’s a big lad who uses his body to his advantage in 1v1s, as well as contesting for the ball in the air, his playmaking skills are elite (both inside and outside the box) and his passing range is also superb, particularly when he is creating from deep.
So let’s say hypothetically, Manchester United sold him and got roughly ₤60–75 million for him. Who should the replacement be? For me there are 3 options; Sergej Milinković-Savić, Ruben Neves, or Donny Van de Beek.
Sergej Milinković-Savić
I recall us being linked to this guy back when José Mourinho was the manager of United and you can’t blame him, particularly after the season he’s had with Lazio in Serie A.
This season, Milinković-Savić started and played in all 32 games for Lazio in Serie A this season, registering 8 goals and 9 assists. He primarily played on the right of Lazio’s midfield 3, in the 3–5–2 system deployed by then manager Simone Inzaghi.
This season, Milinković-Savić was what Pogba struggles to be, consistent. This season, he recorded an average SofaScore rating of 7.18 in Serie A. In comparison, Paul Pogba recorded an average SofaScore rating of 6.98 in the Premier League.
From a statistical comparison, Milinković-Savić had a significantly better season than Pogba. Using WhoScored, the site compares the two players based on three areas of the game; Offensive, Defensive and Passing.
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Offensive area this season:
Mins: Minutes played
Goals: Total goals
Assists: Total assists
SpG: Shots per game
KeyP: Key passes per game
Drb: Dribbles per game
Fouled: Fouled per game
Off: Offsides per game
Disp: Dispossessed per game
UnsTch: Bad control per game
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Defensive area this season:
Mins: Minutes played
Tackles: Tackles per game
Inter: Interceptions per game
Fouls: Fouls per game
Offsides: Offside won per game
Clear: Clearances per game
Drb: Dribbled past per game
Blocks: OutfielderBlockPerGame
OwnG: Own goals
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Passing area this season:
Mins: Minutes played
Assists: Total assists
KeyP: Key passes per game
AvgP: Passes per game
PS%: Pass success percentage
Crosses: Crosses per game
LongB: Long balls per game
ThrB: Through balls per game
For me, if Pogba leaves, Milinković-Savić has got to be our number one target. Based on this season, Sergej has performed at a much better level and consistently too. Further, his price is being quoted at ₤60 million by Transfermarkt, which is only another incentive to sell Pogba as soon as possible. Further, Sergej is 26, and he’s still getting better. Pogba is 28 and is still struggling to perform consistently at an elite level.
Ruben Neves
While he may not be everybody’s first choice, there’s no question that Ruben Neves has got the potential to be a solid Central Midfielder. He’s only 24, with a lot of time to grow and he would be a cheaper alternative to Milinković-Savić, with Transfermarkt quoting his value at roughly ₤38.5 million.
Neves, for me, is ready to move to a big club. This season for Wolves, according to SofaScore, he was their best player, with an average Match Rating of 7.13 in the Premier League, again much better than Pogba’s 6.98.
Ruben Neves is an all-rounder, in that he is solid both offensively and defensively, as his passing range as well as his long shot ability is super. His qualities are reflected in his WhoScored statistics. Neves started 31 of the 36 games for Wolves this season, registering 5 goals and 1 assist. He primarily played on the Right of the double pivot of then Wolves’ manager, Nuno Espírito Santo’s 3–4–3 system.
This season, as reflected in his average SofaScore rating, Neves had a better season than Pogba and again, like Milinković-Savić, he was consistent. Using WhoScored’s three aspect player comparison tool, it is clear that Neves is definitely capable of filling Pogba’s position in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 4–2–3–1 system at United.
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Offensive area this season:
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Defensive area this season:
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Passing area this season:
For me, Neves would be a decent signing due to the balance he would bring to our midfield, particularly if we also signed Eduardo Camavinga. Neves is disciplined defensively and he would allow players like Bruno Fernandes and Camavinga to advance forward. It also allows Solskjaer to be more tactically flexbile, as Neves can play as a CDM.
Donny van de Beek
Surprised? To be honest, I am surprised that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer didn’t play him that much in the 2020–21 season, considering how good his last season at Ajax was in the 2019–20 season. Living in Perth, Australia I unfortunately can’t watch as many games of United as I would like, however I recall the game against Southampton away when Donny played. I thought he was superb. Donny’s energy, pressing and passing was at an elite level that was lacking from our usual midfielders in Fred and Scott McTominay.
Van de Beek certainly has the quality to replace Paul Pogba, otherwise why did the club sign the lad? In the 2019/20 season for Ajax, van de Beek registered an average SofaScore match rating of 7.32 which is impressive. He played 23 games, starting 22 of them, where he scored 8 goals and got 5 assists.
Not only did van de Beek have a stellar season in the Eredivisie, but he also had a super campaign in the 2019–20 Champions League for Ajax, where he also recorded an average SofaScore match rating of 7.32, making him Ajax’s 4th best player in the tournament.
Donny for me is the complete midfielder and this is a result of him coming through the Ajax academy where they teach the midfielders how to play in every midfield position whether it is CDM, CM or CAM.
Using WhoScored to compare Donny’s 19/20 season with Pogba’s season this year, it is clear that there is definitely a reason why van de Beek is more than capable of replacing Pogba.
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Offensive area:
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Defensive area:
Below are the two player’s statistics in the Passing area:
While van de Beek may not have the flashy tricks and flicks Pogba has, he is a midfielder that gets it done and he still has a lot of potential to fulfill. If given the opportunity, I think van de Beek could be a very important and successful player for Manchester United
Who would I pick?
Donny van de Beek
For me it just makes sense, as it saves the club money as he is already in the squad but he deserves to have a chance in the midfield next season, whether it is in a deeper position or somewhere higher up. If he is given a consistent run of games, then he will show is quality and why big clubs like Real Madrid showed a huge amount of interest in him.
