I Used Data To Find Man Utd’s Perfect Midfielder.

The Players United Should Target Next.

Man United don’t just need a new midfielder - they need the right one. Scroll through social media or listen to post-match punditry and you’ll hear the same names thrown around every week, usually based on short compilations, but what happens when you strip away the hype and let the numbers do the talking?

I decided to use data to search for the perfect midfielder for Manchester United. By comparing underlying metrics, role fit, and stylistic needs, I narrowed the field down to three players who actually make sense - not just on paper, but in the context of what United are missing right now.

I’ll be looking for a long-term option who can take the reins from the ageing Casemiro and improve United right away - not only by being a better profile fit, but also by shouldering the burden of ball progression in the middle of the park, allowing the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount to flourish further up the pitch.

Angelo Stiller

• Age: 24

• Nationality: Germany

• Market Value: £39m

The German international was one of the best midfielders in Europe last season and has only continued that ‘form’ into this season. He came through the Bayern Munich academy before leaving for Hoffenheim in 2021 as a 20 year old but it’s his current club, Stuttgart - who he joined in 2023 - where he’s gone from a prodigy to a star.

Stiller is a dictator of games, one look at his underlying passing numbers will tell you that. He’s always looking for the pass forwards, which is something United lack in this area of the pitch, with Casemiro averaging just 5.94 progressive passes and 4.94 passes into the final third - respectable numbers but some that cannot compare to Stiller.

A dictator of games is a label that often carries negative connotations in the English game. I think back to someone like Jorginho, whose game took years to be appreciated by many fans in England. However, while Stiller fits that profile, he offers so much more than just his passing ability. He’s a genuine final-third threat as well: he contributed 1 goal and 8 assists last season and already has 1 goal and 3 assists in the current campaign. Moreover, his 4.64 shot-creating actions per 90 rank him in the 97th percentile among midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues - higher than the likes of Vitinha and Bellingham!

To acquire him, United will have to act pretty fast - I’m sure Bayern Munich will come knocking and look to undo their mistake of letting him go, especially with Joshua Kimmich not getting any younger.

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