Man United weighing up move for 27 y/o once dubbed 'best young midfielder in Denmark'
Manchester United want to bolster their midfield this summer and have been linked with several targets.
However, United’s struggles to raise funds from player sales could prevent them from signing a high-profile midfielder like Atalanta’s Ederson.
As a result, the club have been linked with low-cost option targets such as Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi.
Ndidi’s international team-mate Frank Onyeka is now the latest to be linked with the club.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed that United have considered signing the Nigeria international.
He told The United Stand: “Brentford’s Frank Onyeka has been discussed as a cheaper squad option; however, with interest from Valencia and Burnley, and with Christian Norgaard leaving, it’s not seen as too likely.”
With Norgaard’s move to Arsenal now confirmed, Brentford is unlikely to sanction Onyeka’s exit.
Onyeka spent last season on loan with Bundesliga side FC Augsburg. He made 34 appearances and registered two assists for them.
The Nigerian defensive midfielder started his career with Danish outfit Midtjylland. He was once described as the ‘best young midfielder in Denmark’ according to Dr. Ian Graham, Liverpool’s former director of research.
He joined Brentford in the summer of 2021 and has registered 78 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Man United should not move for Onyeka
United need a dynamic midfielder, and the Midtjylland academy product doesn’t fit the bill.
The 27-year-old works hard, and that was proven in the Bundesliga last season.
He made 1.9 tackles and 1.2 interceptions per game in the Bundesliga last season, breaking into the top 10 of both metrics among defensive midfielders in the division.
However, he does not do enough in possession. He registered 0.6 key passes per game in the German top flight, whereas Casemiro recorded 0.9 in the Premier League.
He is also not a great passer, having completed 26.9 passes per game while Casemiro registered 32.1 for the same metric.
United need a midfielder who can set the tone in games while impacting the game defensively, and statistics suggest that Onyeka is not one.
Unless Man United identify a midfielder who can offer both defensive solidity and control in possession, a move for Onyeka would represent a sidestep rather than a meaningful upgrade.
Stats from sofascore.com & transfermarkt.com
Article written by Henry Thornton .