Numbers Talk: How Does Manchester United’s £27m Midfield Target Fare Against Mourinho’s Current Options?

Comparison – Sergej Milinkovic-Savic vs Other Manchester United Midfielders

Manchester United are being linked with a move for Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic as Jose Mourinho appears determined to add more options to his squad. Savic has been on the radar of several clubs over the summer since he offers solidity in the middle of the park. Savic’s exploits also provides a shift in the final third, which can be advantageous for a lot of teams. He is good with the ball at his feet and equally handy while bringing his teammates into the game.

The £27m rated midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at the Stadio Olimpico, and ever since Simone Inzaghi arrived at the club, the Serbian midfielder has only improved further. He has now established himself as a key member of the Lazio midfield. Last season, he played all but 3 matches for the club, with a return of 7 goals and 7 assists to show for his efforts.

With Carrick’s career in its twilight years, the central midfielder has risen as one of the top priorities for Mourinho. The player does bring a lot to the table. He is versatile, since he can play as a box-to-box midfielder and also as a defensive midfielder, which will help Mourinho with squad rotation going forward.

However, how do his numbers compare to Manchester United’s other recognised options in that area?

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic vs Nemanja Matic

In 10 appearances for Lazio in the new season, Savic has a passing accuracy of 80.2%, and has also scored a goal in the process. He has an average of 1.9 shots per game, while winning 2 aerial battles on an average.

As far as United’s prolific summer acquisition Matic is concerned, he enjoys a passing accuracy of 88.3% after having appeared in 10 games for the Red Devils. While the player has not provided an assist, his average shots per game is 0.5 and has won only 1.2 aerial battles per game.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic vs Ander Herrera

In 5 appearances for United in the new season, Herrera has scored 0 goals and has provided 0 assists. He has picked up a yellow card once and has an average of 0.3 shots per game. His passing accuracy is at 86.2%, and has won 0.3 aerial duels on an average.

Verdict

Compared to both players, Savic certainly has better numbers. Moreover, he is only 22 years old, which means he has a lot of top-football years ahead of him. While Matic has been a largely influential player for United, Savic can certainly link up well with him and attempt to replace Ander Herrera eventually. His versatility is another trait that sets him apart from United’s current options in that area.