This article is part of Football FanCast’s The Chalkboard series, which provides a tactical insight into teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…
After getting rid of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez in the summer, Manchester United have left themselves incredibly short of options up front. Reports in recent weeks have claimed the Red Devils are keen on bringing in reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer window, with suggestions Mario Mandzukic and Callum Wilson are high up on the shortlist.
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The latest man linked with a move to Old Trafford? Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller. The former Germany international who appears to have a long-running arrangement with the Red Devils to have his name consistently linked with a transfer. A deal has failed to materialise before, but with United’s current goal-scoring struggles – they have scored just ten times in the league this season – an approach for the 30-year-old makes all the sense in the world.
On the chalkboard
As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to implement a fast-paced approach, with an intent on pressing the ball, Muller would be the perfect embodiment of the Norwegian’s vision. The versatile attacker is a work-horse, and has an engine to rival anyone in the world.
His former manager at international level, Jurgen Klinsmann, paid a glowing tribute to the German’s work ethic. He said: “There’s isn’t a team in the world that wouldn’t like to have Thomas Muller on its side. He is mentally strong, a very smart player who always seems able to find space, but physically he is in great shape as well. He is the one who runs the most kilometres but he makes it look easy, even the heat doesn’t seem to affect him.”
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His current boss at Bayern, Niko Kovac, even described him as “intangible” and that “he helps everywhere, which makes him so valuable”. And that’s exactly the kind of player Solskjaer would undoubtedly appreciate. Working hard for the team, committed to the cause, and never one to let the team down. After all the drama surrounding Lukaku and Sanchez, Muller would be a welcome breath of fresh air.
He would hustle and harry the opposition defence, and his movement is unparalleled. Joachim Low remarked that the 6 foot 1 man is a “very unorthodox player” and that his unpredictable lines of running made him a particularly dangerous striker. Solskjaer has made it publicly known he wants both Rashford and Martial to score more scrappy goals like he did. Muller does exactly that.
So despite being in his thirties, Muller’s actual style of play makes him the ultimate fit for Solskjaer’s side.
