{"id":1342016,"date":"2024-02-21T18:02:37","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T18:02:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1342016"},"modified":"2024-02-21T18:10:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T18:10:07","slug":"man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd CB transfer targets &#8211; sign Van Nistelrooy&#8217;s ex-pupil or &#8216;the Butcher&#8217;s&#8217; perfect partner?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>We&#8217;ve found the perfect signings to launch the new era at Manchester United.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to Standard Sport, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has highlighted four areas that need investment: centre-back, right-back, No.8 and centre-forward, also identifying Michael Olise as a marquee target.<\/p>\n<p>So, we built statistical profiles to identify Dream, Realistic and Wildcard options for a summer transfer shortlist and a Squawka Suggestion based on stats.<\/p>\n<p>As follows are the centre-back transfer options Man Utd should consider:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"4 signings Sir Jim Ratcliffe NEEDS to make | Man Utd Transfer Targets\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sOSLVblqUuY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Lisandro Mart\u00ednez is the clear first choice at the heart of the defence. The Butcher needs a partner that complements him. Rapha\u00ebl Varane does this to an extent, but doubt constantly surrounds his future and fitness. So, we used his strengths and Mart\u00ednez&#8217;s weaknesses to create our search.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Jarrad Branthwaite: Man Utd&#8217;s dream transfer option?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The dream signing is <strong>Jarrad Branthwaite<\/strong>. The Everton academy graduate is aggressive, two-footed and a monster in both ground and aerial duels. That last quality moved him ahead of Jean-Clair Todibo on our shortlist.<\/p>\n<p>Branthwaite&#8217;s acquisition would follow a trend that picked up when Erik ten Hag took over, having spent time in the Dutch top division (a la Mart\u00ednez and first-choice goalkeeper Andr\u00e9 Onana). The native of Carlisle enjoyed a season on loan at PSV Eindhoven, where he made 40 appearances in all competitions, and even scored four goals.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Jarrad Branthwaite is here to strengthen our defense \u270a<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/TheJarradWay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#TheJarradWay<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jarradbranthwa1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Jarradbranthwa1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; PSV (@PSV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PSV\/status\/1548653908066697216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It was a brilliant experience and I look back now on it probably being one of the best decisions I have ever made,&#8221; Branthwaite said in a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thetimes.co.uk\/article\/jarrad-branthwaite-ruud-van-nistelrooy-taught-me-how-to-defend-6pv6200n6\">Times<\/a><\/strong> interview.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Every team in that league looks to play from the back, whereas in the Premier League teams can play from the back but they can also switch it up and play more direct and run in behind.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At PSV, we had a lot of the ball and it was about being switched on in case we lost possession so that we don&#8217;t get caught on the counterattack. I like to be on the ball as much as I can anyway. In my younger years I was a midfielder and that has helped me a lot. I moved back to centre back towards the end of my youth days at Carlisle.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ruud van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United and Netherlands striker, was his manager and offered tips on what forwards don&#8217;t want their markers to do.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He would speak to me about my body shape when defending and the importance of being side on, so that I am always ready to run back or be ready to press forward,&#8221; Branthwaite recalled.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;He said if you don\u2019t have the right body shape, you will get done because the Premier League is much faster. If they play it in behind and you are not side on, the striker will already be gone.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1340820\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite.png 1620w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-110x110.png 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-70x70.png 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-50x50.png 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-66x65.png 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-80x80.png 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-180x180.png 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-240x240.png 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-999x999.png 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-85x85.png 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/09152126\/1340811_1340811_Radar-Martinez-Branthwaite-20x20.png 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><strong>What other centre-backs could Man Utd sign?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Tosin Adarabioyo<\/strong> is the realistic option. The Fulham centre-back is out of contract in the summer so could even be signed alongside our wildcard pick, <strong>Joseph Okumu<\/strong>. Everyone&#8217;s favourite football manager, Will Still, called the Kenyan defender one of Stade Reims&#8217; best signings. As someone who is genuinely elite at both winning the ball in his team&#8217;s defensive third (second-most among Ligue 1 CBs this season) and pinging it into the attacking third (most long-range passes of any Ligue CB this season), you can see why we think he could also be one of United&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1342355\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1620\" height=\"1620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21174527\/1342016_1342016_player_radar-comparison-1-20x20.jpg 20w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1620px) 100vw, 1620px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In the January window, the Squawka pick was Joachim Andersen, whose long-range passing would be worth the transfer fee alone. But now we\u2019re suggesting <strong>Ous<\/strong><strong>mane Diomand\u00e9<\/strong> for the summer. The Ivorian is rarely beaten on the ground and even less often in the air. At Sporting CP, he has formed a brilliant understanding with Gon\u00e7alo In\u00e1cio, a similar player to Mart\u00ednez, so he seems like the perfect fit.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1342352\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-110x138.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-56x70.jpg 56w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-52x65.jpg 52w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-80x100.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-180x225.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-192x240.jpg 192w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-480x600.jpg 480w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-799x999.jpg 799w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-85x106.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-16x20.jpg 16w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/21173106\/1342016_1342016_GGYMyDuWcAAbtMX-300x375.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;ve found the perfect signings to launch the new era at Manchester United. According to Standard Sport, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has highlighted four areas that need investment: centre-back, right-back, No.8 and centre-forward, also identifying Michael Olise as a marquee target. So, we built statistical profiles to identify Dream, Realistic and Wildcard options for a summer&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":355,"featured_media":1342019,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1342016","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Man Utd CB transfer targets - sign Van Nistelrooy&#039;s ex-pupil or &#039;the Butcher&#039;s&#039; perfect partner? | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Man Utd CB transfer targets - sign Van Nistelrooy&#039;s ex-pupil or &#039;the Butcher&#039;s&#039; perfect partner?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We&#8217;ve found the perfect signings to launch the new era at Manchester United. According to Standard Sport, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has highlighted four areas that need investment: centre-back, right-back, No.8 and centre-forward, also identifying Michael Olise as a marquee target. So, we built statistical profiles to identify Dream, Realistic and Wildcard options for a summer...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Squawka | EN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SquawkaFootballNews\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-02-21T18:10:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/18195246\/1342016_1342016_Man-Utd-CB-options-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@squawka\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Squawka News\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/b6f50937daba73c196b4aa35c5a33117\"},\"headline\":\"Man Utd CB transfer targets &#8211; sign Van Nistelrooy&#8217;s ex-pupil or &#8216;the Butcher&#8217;s&#8217; perfect partner?\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-02-21T18:02:37+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-02-21T18:10:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/\"},\"wordCount\":671,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/02\/18195246\/1342016_1342016_Man-Utd-CB-options-scaled.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Features\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/man-utd-centre-back-transfer-jim-ratcliffe\/\",\"name\":\"Man Utd CB transfer targets - sign Van Nistelrooy's ex-pupil or 'the Butcher's' perfect partner? 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