'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Tanguy Ndombélé
With Nemanja Matić turning 31 this year, and already showing signs of slowing down with an inconsistent season, United need a long term option at defensive midfield. Lyon midfielder Ndombélé is potentially ready to step straight in, already outperforming Matić in several key areas.
Ndombélé has a higher pass completion at 88.7%, while averaging 1.1 key passes per game. While close, Matić only has an 87.5% pass completion and a fairly poor 0.6 key passes per game.
As a result, it's not surprising Ndombélé has 4 league assists, to Matić's 0. Ndombélé already seems to be the more composed of the two players, being the better ballplayer and linking defence and attack more effectively.
While Ndombélé is certainly no slouch defensively, completing more tackles per game with 2.1 per game to Matić's 1.7, he still has a lot of room for improvement in the defensive department. Matić comfortably outperforms the Frenchman in several other defensive areas.
Matić makes 1.2 interceptions to Ndombélé's mere 0.6. Ndombélé alarmingly only makes 0.3 clearances to Matić's far superior 2. Matić also makes twice as many blocks with 0.6 to the Frenchman's 0.3.
This is likely due to Matić playing a more defensive role, but perhaps also suggests Ndombélé lacks the experience to read the game as well as Matić. However, this is to be expected with Ndombélé being 8 years the Serbian's junior.
The optimal solution would be to bed Ndombélé in slowly while he adapts, initially deputising for Matić before taking over long term.
