live from Fabrizio Romano, Manchester united submits bid to sign their own Declan rice as man united turns full attention to Bayern Munich star. according to a report from FOOTBALLWAVE earlier this week, Man United are interested in signing Leon Goretzka and It’s said that United are keen to sign a partner for Kobbie Mainoo, who has experience; hence, Goretzka is a potential target. 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. This will be a magnifico signing💯 he’s truly one of the best. The fans are already dreaming of this deal🙀🙀🙀
Since Michael Carrick left Manchester United, their midfield has struggled with inconsistency and quality issues. Despite significant investments in players like Casemiro and Paul Pogba, they have not met expectations, leaving a void that a player of Declan Rice’s caliber could fill.
Declan Rice has been instrumental to Arsenal’s success, embodying the type of midfielder Manchester United sorely needs. Recognizing this, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are focusing on acquiring a player who could be United’s equivalent to Rice.
This summer, Manchester United is set for a major overhaul of their midfield. The future of players like Christian Eriksen and Sofyan Amrabat remains uncertain, and Casemiro might be heading to Saudi Arabia. Therefore, finding a replacement is crucial.
According to FootballTransfers, Manchester United is targeting Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich. Goretzka is an experienced midfielder and is one of the players Bayern is willing to let go this summer. United plans to pair him with young talent Kobbie Mainoo, offering the latter an experienced partner.
Reports from Spain indicate that United has already placed a £34 million bid for Goretzka, under the direction of manager Erik ten Hag. Over the past seven years, Goretzka has been one of the standout midfielders in the Bundesliga. Although not always the first-choice at Bayern, his impact is undeniable, as seen in his 25 Bundesliga starts and ten Champions League appearances last season.
In the latter part of the season, Goretzka frequently partnered with 20-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic, showing his capability to mentor younger players. FBref’s ‘similar players’ model often compares Goretzka to Declan Rice, highlighting their similar skill sets.
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 Rice and Goretzka are versatile, influencing both offense and defense, and can play as a number eight or drop back into a number six role. Their ability to score and assist makes them crucial to their teams.
Goretzka’s technical proficiency allows him to provide a reliable progressive outlet through sharp passes or forward runs. Defensively, both players are robust, with no significant weaknesses, which is why journalist Stefan Bienkowski describes Goretzka as “world-class.”
At £34 million, Goretzka could be a tremendous bargain for Manchester United. If he delivers performances comparable to Declan Rice, it would be a significant boost for the team.
