A fascinating study has compared Manchester United left-back targets against each other and there's a clear winner.
Man United are in the market for a new left-back following the injury to Luke Shaw, who suffered a muscular problem following his side's crushing defeat at Tottenham.
Erik ten Hag is keen to recruit a left-back ahead of Friday's transfer deadline, with a host of names being linked with a move to Old Trafford.Chelsea's Marc Cucurella, Brentford's Rico Henry, Spurs' Sergio Reguilon, Barcelona's Marcos Alonso and Lyon's Nicolas Tagliafico are among the players thought to be on Ten Hag's radar.
How do they compare against each other? Well, a study has measured the left-back talents in a study, seemingly revealing a winner.
Based on their 'Opta Performance Index' rating via Squawka, Alonso comes out on top ahead of Reguilon, Cucurella, Tagliafico and Henry.The former Chelsea defender also boasts a better rating in 'Touches', 'Ball Recoveries', 'Passes Attempted', 'Pass Accuracy', 'Long Passes Attempted', 'Take-on Success', 'Aerial Duel Success' and 'Ground Duel Success'.Reguilon, who spent last season on loan at Atletico Madrid, excels in 'Shots', 'Shots On Target', 'Chances Created', 'Crosses Attempted' and 'Through Balls Attempted'.
Cucurella, however, has registered the mosts assists and has a better 'Tackles Made' and 'Ground Duels Won' than his left-back counterparts.
Tagliafico, who played under the Dutch boss at Ajax, beats his left-back rivals when it comes to 'Fouls Won' and Henry has the highest rated 'Cross Accuracy'.
Based on the findings, Alonso appears to be the best choice, with the 32-year-old also no stranger to the Premier League having spent time at Bolton Wanderers, Sunderland and Chelsea, where he won the league title in the 2016/17 season.
Diogo Dalot, meanwhile, started at left-back in Man United's come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Will Ten Hag draft in a left-back before the window slams shut? Watch this space.
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