What makes Sofyan Amrabat a desirable signing for Man Utd?

Manchester United’s 2023 summer transfer window has seen two expensive players arrive at the club, but there is still a feeling that they are yet to really get busy. The arrivals of Mason Mount and particularly Andre Onana have pleased fans, as they address areas of the squad that needed improving.

There are areas of the squad that still need to be addressed, the main one being a striker. Another desire of the fanbase is for another central midfielder of a more defensive persuasion. The club seems to be looking at Serie A for both of these roles, as Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta is the primary striker target, and Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat seems to the target for the middle of the park, with 90min reporting that talks are continuing regarding the Moroccan.

Many big clubs have been very keen to sign Amrabat ever since he bossed multiple midfields during the 2022 Qatar World Cup for Morocco. It seems that United are best placed to get the deal over the line with Amrabat very keen to join, but just why do they want the Fiorentina midfielder?

Sofyan Amrabat is exactly what you would call a combative and tidy midfielder. His primary attributes are certainly his athleticism, his passing and his tackling. The Moroccan can be a nightmare to try and pass through and that was what led to him impressing so much at the World Cup.

Man Utd wouldn’t be signing him to really add anything to the attack given he has got two goals and three assists in his 117 Serie A games. The primary reason to sign Amrabat would be so that there is a quality defensive midfielder who can fill in for Casemiro when absent, or play alongside Casemiro in a game where Erik ten Hag expects to be under the cosh.

Amrabat is strong and fast, there is little reason to think he would get swallowed up in the midfield of a Premier League team. His passing can be very good, shown by the fact that in the past year he has completed 88.8% of his passes per 90 minutes. 7.93 of his passes per game have been progressive, and he is also not afraid to run with the ball.

Ten Hag would presumably love to rotate between Casemiro and Amrabat, as well as being able to bring Amrabat on to sure up games that are at risk of turning against United. It should be said, there are valid fears that Amrabat is earning this move purely from the World Cup. He did not carry that form into the second half of the season with Fiorentina, but at 26 years old (27 in August 2023), he has been a very solid midfielder for a number of years.

One of the major selling points for Amrabat is that he should be available for just over £25m. That is a great price if we work on the basis that at least one of Fred and Scott McTominay will be sold to make space for the new midfielder.

He only has one year left on his deal at Fiorentina, although there is an option for that deal to be extended for another season so it is not as simple as now or never for La Viola to get a fee for Amrabat.

90min have reported that talks are ongoing, however the Red Devils face competition from Atletico Madrid in the race to sign the player.