A Bid Has Even Been Made For The Player According To Reports In England This Morning, With A £34m Offer Lodged At The Request Of Ten Hag. Bid Submitted: Man Utd Make Move To Sign “World-Class” Rice Clone.

Since the departure of Michael Carrick, Manchester United’s midfield has struggled to find consistency and quality. High-profile signings like Casemiro and Paul Pogba haven’t lived up to expectations, leaving the team lacking a player of Declan Rice’s caliber.

Arsenal’s Declan Rice is a phenomenal midfielder and a key force behind their success—exactly the type of player Manchester United needs. With this in mind, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are targeting a player who could be United’s equivalent to Rice.

Manchester United is poised for a significant midfield overhaul this summer. The futures of Christian Eriksen and Sofyan Amrabat are uncertain, and Casemiro might also be on the move, potentially heading to Saudi Arabia. Therefore, a replacement is essential.

Recent reports from FootballTransfers suggest that Manchester United is interested in signing Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich. Goretzka, a seasoned midfielder, is among the Bayern players available for transfer this summer. United aims to pair him with Kobbie Mainoo, providing the young talent with an experienced partner.

According to Spanish reports, United has already made a £34 million bid for Goretzka at the behest of manager Erik ten Hag. Goretzka has been one of the most talented midfielders in the Bundesliga for over seven years. Though not always the first-choice player for Bayern, he has consistently made a significant impact, evidenced by his 25 starts in the Bundesliga and ten appearances in the Champions League last season.

In the latter part of the season, Goretzka often partnered with 20-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic, demonstrating his ability to mentor and guide younger players. According to FBref’s ‘similar players’ model, Goretzka’s name frequently appears alongside Declan Rice, highlighting their comparable skills and attributes.

Here’s a comparison of their league stats for the 2023/24 season:

| Stats (per 90) | Rice | Goretzka |

|———————–|——-|———-|

| Goals | 0.20 | 0.24 |

| Assists | 0.22 | 0.28 |

| Touches | 74 | 81 |

| Passes completed | 57 | 62.6 |

| Progressive passes | 7.77 | 7.07 |

| Progressive carries | 2.09 | 2.65 |

| Tackles | 2.32 | 1.65 |

| Interceptions | 1.23 | 1.24 |

Both players are versatile, capable of influencing the game in both attack and defense. They can play as a number eight or drop deeper into a number six role. They have a knack for scoring and creating goals, making them invaluable assets to their teams.

Goretzka, like Rice, excels technically, offering a reliable progressive outlet, either through incisive passes or forward runs. Defensively, both players are solid, with no significant weaknesses, which is why journalist Stefan Bienkowski has labeled Goretzka as “world-class.”

For just £34 million, Manchester United could secure a remarkable bargain in Goretzka. If he can deliver performances even remotely close to those of Declan Rice, it would be a significant acquisition for the team.