Ten Hag now plotting Man Utd swoop for "lucid" £43m maestro, supporters will love him – opinion

Manchester United are preparing a bid for a former Ole Gunnar Solskjær target.

That is according to a report from The Sun, who claimed that AC Milan midfielder Ismael Bennacer is subject to a bid from the Red Devils, who have renewed their interest in a player who was originally wanted by Solskjær.

As per the report, it is said that Old Trafford officials are thought to have spoken to their Rossoneri counterparts about the Algerian, with the Serie A champions setting an asking price of £43m.

Despite being a former Arsenal player, Bennacer is the type of holding midfielder that United fans would love.

Even more pertinently, he seems the type of player who would fit into an Erik ten Hag possession-based system like a glove.

Able to function as a central midfielder, Bennacer is a progressive pivot and dictates play with his range of passing. He completes around 52.82 passes per game at a success rate of 85.8%, which is even more impressive when you look at the types of passes he is making in a 90-minute case study.

Hailed as “lucid” in possession by San Siro icon Massimo Ambrosini, the 24-year-old completes an average of 2.98 switches per game, with 5.97 progressive passes per 90 at a cumulative distance of 293.68 yards. He averages around 4.88 passes into the final third per match and is stable in possession, especially in tight-knit scenarios, averaging around 9.71 passes under pressure in a metric which hints at his ability to play in a high-possession system capable of breaking down a low block.

Bennacer is the kind of stabiliser who is needed in United’s midfield, and his ability as a ball winner (average of 5.97 tackles and interceptions per game), allied with his ability in possession, demonstrates that well.

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