{"id":1090152,"date":"2019-05-22T17:14:28","date_gmt":"2019-05-22T16:14:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1090152"},"modified":"2021-09-14T15:48:22","modified_gmt":"2021-09-14T14:48:22","slug":"dan-james-playing-style-solskjaer-man-utd-transfer","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/dan-james-playing-style-solskjaer-man-utd-transfer\/","title":{"rendered":"What Dan James’ playing style means for Solskjaer’s Man Utd side"},"content":{"rendered":"

As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer begins his much-anticipated summer surgery, Manchester United look set to land Swansea City forward Daniel James.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 21-year-old has reportedly<\/a> agreed personal terms with the Red Devils after the club negotiated a \u00a315m fee for his services with the Swans.<\/p>\n

Should the Wales international put pen-to-paper on a deal at Old Trafford then he will become not only Solskjaer’s first ever United signing but also the first of what is set to be a busy summer of repair in the North West.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7266091-the-season-defining-story-from-each-of-europe-s-top-five-leagues<\/p>\n

James enjoyed a blistering campaign in 2018\/19 as Graham Potter’s side finished 10th in the Championship, though he could have been donning the famous strip of Leeds United had a January move not collapsed in the Eleventh Hour.<\/p>\n

Well, to rub salt in the wounds of Marcelo Bielsa’s side, James now looks destined for their Roses rivals. But what threat could the two-time Wales international bring to Solskjaer’s beleaguered United?<\/p>\n

Counter-attack devastation: The Welsh Mbappe<\/strong><\/h2>\n

United already have the fastest player in the Premier League<\/a> on their books, but James will certainly be giving the top-flight’s speed-merchants a run for their money next term – he’s even clocked a top speed of 36 km\/hr, just one kph shy of Arjen Robben’s world record (37 km\/hr)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Blessed with close control and breakneck pace, James epitomises the archetypal counter-attack player, making him the ideal forward for Solskjaer’s system.<\/p>\n

Since the Norwegian took the helm in December, no team has produced more fast breaks (18) than Man Utd in the league; in fact, prior to Solskjaer’s arrival, United were bottom of that statistic under Jose Mourinho (3).<\/p>\n

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Indeed, Solskjaer has reinstalled that United high-tempo attack of former glory years, something Gary Neville alluded to before the wheels came off: “Manchester United look like the Manchester United of five to 10 years ago. They have got the counter-attack back.”<\/p>\n

Those comments were made in January, and of course we now know how the season\u00a0eventually unravelled, but Solskjaer will be desperate to reinvigorate his counter-attacking philosophy – and James could prove essential to those plans.<\/p>\n

A quick look at his exceptional solo goal against Brentford tells you all you need to know about his sonic speed – even drawing direct parallels with a certain Paris Saint-Germain speedster…<\/p>\n

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? Daniel James x Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 ?\u00a0pic.twitter.com\/RrVfQon2u3<\/a><\/p>\n

— TNT Sports (@tntsports) February 17, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n