{"id":273840,"date":"2023-05-02T11:51:35","date_gmt":"2023-05-02T11:51:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thedevilsdna.com\/?p=273840"},"modified":"2023-05-02T13:22:15","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T13:22:15","slug":"search-for-a-cb-rcb-lcb-shortlists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedevilsdna.com\/?p=273840","title":{"rendered":"Search for a CB: RCB & LCB Shortlists<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Welcome to another one of these scouting exercises. In case you missed them, I\u2019ve previously done RB<\/a>, GK<\/a>, CF<\/a>, DLP<\/a> and DM<\/a> lists for Manchester United. Today, I\u2019ll be diving into a position which might not seem as urgent as some of the aforementioned critical starting gaps, but is a genuine area to be addressed in coming windows – Centerback.

I\u2019m going to go out on a limb here to make a prediction – I think Ten Hag will want a new right-sided centerback (RCB) and left-sided centerback (LCB) within the next 2 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The LCB need comes from his preference of wanting a set of 2 left-footed CBs and 2 right-footed CBs for each side. We have seen that he likes this setup for 2 reasons <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. For the passing angles a left-footer provides from LCB
2. Based on the recent reveal of why he plays Lindelof at LCB instead of Maguire – for rest defence reasons when a CB has to press ahead and cover his side with his dominant foot.

The LCB would ideally be a backup to Lisandro Martinez, who\u2019s had an excellent season and looks set to remain our mainstay for a few years, so we can afford a younger or more raw backup type profile here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The RCB need has a more starter-level concern. While Raphael Varane has been excellent in helping United defend in their box, the concerns on the ball have shown up from time to time, especially in the last few months without Eriksen ahead of the defence. Varane is limited in build up and that coupled with De Gea being poor at it, often puts heavy responsibility on Lisandro to get us out of our half. Ten Hag\u2019s plan of keeping club captain Harry Maguire as the designated RCB backup to give him the chance to usurp Varane and partner Lisandro, hasn\u2019t worked either. Maguire hasn\u2019t seemed as good from RCB as he used to be from LCB under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. There is a RCB gap. A high ceiling wonderkid or straight up starter level talent who can take over sooner rather than later would be one idea on Ten Hag\u2019s mind.

The shortlists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve read any of my previous scouting pieces, it might come as a surprise to you that I\u2019m not going to follow the same stats-heavy process for center-backs. My reasons:

1. Defensive stats make no sense for CBs
A player with more tackles or interceptions doesn\u2019t make him a better defender. Defensive volume is a bad way to judge defensive quality. Usually top CBs have the lowest defensive volume in the league. It could also really vary based on their roles (stopper, cover). And even less doesn\u2019t mean good. There is just no correlation

2. Fbref\u2019s progression stats are not ideal to judge defenders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fbref\u2019s new definitions of progression cut the defensive 40% of the pitch and include passes to the byline. Defenders and especially center-backs suffer the most from these changes and only very high line CBs who pass a lot from the center of the pitch (usually top team CBs) accrue.

Taking these out of the equation leaves almost nothing for a stats-based methodology, which is why I\u2019m going with the eye test (rejoice, eye test > stats folks!) for this position. I have gone through center-backs in the top 7 leagues who were U27 and right-footed or U25 and left-footed and scored the realistic options on 4 basic criteria based on hours of footage of each of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Progression – Their ability on the ball both in terms of passing and carrying to handle build up and advance the game comfortably and consistently <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Security – Their security on the ball during progression<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Aerial duels – Ability in the air to win duels and be a set piece threat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Ground duels – Ability and positioning on the ground to press, cover or tackle well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, here are the results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Let\u2019s take a look at the RCBs first. Probably not a big reveal, but I was most impressed by Napoli\u2019s Kim Min-Jae and think he\u2019s the closest thing to a full package, who is also near the peak age for a CB. Nianzou impressed me more than I thought. Timber is a name that has been thrown around a lot and he looks good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s really tough to pick just a few players to highlight. But I\u2019m going to do mini profiles for the best + realistic options: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 1: Kin Min-Jae<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 2: Jurrien Timber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 3: Kevin Danso<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 4: Antonio Silva<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, let\u2019s take a look at the LCB list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The LCB list is shorter due to two issues – our restriction of players under age 25 and there being less left-footed players in general. Lot of teams play with multiple right footers in the back line. I\u2019ve already done a scout report for Facundo Medina here<\/a>. Other than him, I will be detailing the 3 best options:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 1: Goncalo Inacio
LCB 2: Castello Lukeba 
LCB 3: Calvin Bassey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mini Reports

<\/strong>As mentioned before, since I\u2019m not using stats to assess CBs in this piece, I won\u2019t be posting pizza charts either. They\u2019ll just be misleading. I\u2019ll try to detail the reports a bit more to compensate for that.

Let\u2019s start with the RCB targets first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 1: Kim Min-Jae, Napoli, 26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History:<\/strong> Born in South Korea, Kim made his way to K League club Jeonbuk by the age of 19. A key player for the 17\/18 season, his performances earned him a K League Young Player of the Year and K League Best XI for the year. In January 2019, he moved to Beijing Guoan in the CSL. His impressive performances caught the eye of Europe with Tottenham strongly linked but unable to negotiate a transfer fee. Fenerbache was the club to profit from his services as he played the 21\/22 season for the Turkish club and was once again impressive, making it to the S\u00fcper Lig Team of the Season. In July 2022, Napoli paid \u20ac18m to replace the outgoing Kalidou Koulibaly and have since been enjoying a great year from the South Korean who should again make the Serie A team of the season easily. There\u2019s no surprise every top club wants him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending:<\/strong> Kim\u2019s biggest strength is his defending on the ground. He is very positionally aware and mixes aggression, speed and strength to constantly flush out dangers when the opposition has the ball. He is very comfortable stepping out and tackling an oncoming dribbler. He ranks 97 percentile for % of dribblers tackled and 96 percentile for challenges lost. It is really tough to get past him. He has a very keen sense of the game and challenges the moment he sees a bad touch or an opponent he can overpower by speed or physicality. Using a mix of defensive combinations like this, he is able to come out best against different types of attacking players. His good positioning also allows him to make many shot blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong> Aerially, Kim is good. He ranks 75 percentile for Aerial win % even after facing a lot of aerial duels. He doesn\u2019t shy away from them at all and from what I\u2019ve noticed, even the duels he doesn\u2019t win cleanly, his upper body strength destabilizes the opponent enough for it not to become a problem. His willingness to get into duels and trouble the attacker as much as he can or simply win it cleanly, make getting into a tussle with Kim almost a zero-reward situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Kim is an excellent passer. He is a volume passer (ranks 99 percentile for passes attempted and completed) while being very safe (ranks 93 percentile on pass %) and progressive (99 percentile on progressive passing distance). He can constantly receive the ball in good areas and pass out of them, whether it\u2019s crisp short passes or long switches to the wing. Having played a lot of LCB this year, he loves the switch to the right flank. Combined with his excellent carrying, Kim is really a modern CB who is very comfortable with the ball. He boasts 99 percentile on carries and 96 percentile on progressive carry distance as well. He is very comfortable playing out under pressure or driving into space if he isn\u2019t under pressure and then picking out smart passes of all ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> I didn\u2019t highlight any cons for Kim, because honestly, there are none. What you\u2019re looking at is a complete CB, capable of defending on the ground and in the air, has the physicality to match his defensive IQ, is a dream on the ball in terms of passing and carrying, has the technical range and execution to be a starter for a top possession based team and is at the perfect peak age to take a gamble on. And it’s not even a big gamble! Apparently, Kim has a release clause of \u20ac45m that activates for 15 days when the summer transfer window starts. At that price, this is simply a steal for a world-class player. Such opportunities don\u2019t come around often. Manchester United have to consider this. I rarely score a prospect 10, but this is as perfect as it gets from all angles.

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 10\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 2: Jurrien Timber, Ajax, 21<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History:<\/strong> Born in the Netherlands, Timber joined the Feyenoord academy at 6, but was picked by the Ajax academy at 13. At 18, he made his Ajax debut in the 19\/20 season. Since then, his importance and involvement have only increased as he featured 30 times in 20\/21, 43 times in 21\/22 and has already featured 41 times in 22\/23. With 100+ appearances for Ajax, 15 appearances for the national team, a contract till 2025 and constant links to top clubs, a summer 2023 move is likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending:<\/strong> Timber reads the game well and has a good command of his area. His pressing, speed of coverage and intensity in the duel, help him step out and flush out danger early. His anticipation is at a very good level. You can expect the proactiveness and pressing ability of Lisandro Martinez here. One issue though is Timber\u2019s positioning and concentration. He is prone to the odd error which usually stems from either poor positioning, over-zealous pressing or simply a lapse in concentration that allows a runner or a pass in his blind space. It\u2019s one area he needs to improve on, but given his young age, it seems realistic for this to get better as he gains experience and maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong> Timber is below average in the air. While he has a good jump and willingness to duel, he loses aerial duels more often than not (Aerial win % of just 48% this season in the Eredivisie). His balance, upper body strength and heading technique seem to be the major issues that limit him. He doesn\u2019t generate enough power even in the few times he wins the ball in the air. Like Lisandro, he tries to avoid the necessity for aerial duels via proactive challenges and pressing, but he\u2019s comparatively less effective at it, as of now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession:<\/strong> This is where Timber really shines. His passing, close control and carrying technique are reliable and on the higher side for center-backs. He ranks 99 percentile in the Eredivisie for progressive passes, progressive carries, carries, passes completed, pass completion % and passes received, which indicates a technically sound defender who can guarantee progression and safety in volume. He is the epitome of the new breed of center-backs (like John Stones) who are simply so good on the ball, they are as good as midfielder playmakers in build up. His press resistance is a big reason why he rarely loses the ball in possession. His tactical awareness when playing out from the back, in terms of positioning to receive passes or movement to create spaces for the team to progress, is excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> I have read many takes online on Timber as a RB or DM for United, and I have to say that I don\u2019t see it. He\u2019s not played RB more than 6 times in any given season and didn\u2019t look any better than he does for CB. The mental math to want him to join, but keep him away from CB due to the combined height issue with Lisandro, doesn\u2019t have a great tactical justification. I think we\u2019re looking at a new age wonderkid CB and if United do buy him, Ten Hag will utilize him at RCB most. A few years of rotation with Varane, as Timber gains some experience and maturity to work on his weaknesses, would be a decent deal, all things considered.

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 3: Kevin Danso, Lens, 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History: <\/strong>Danso was born in Austria before moving to the MK Dons academy at 6. His first taste of senior football came at Augsburg where he was a rotation player for 3 years until the age of 20. Then came the ill-fated Southampton loan term where he had only 10 appearances. But RC Lens took a punt at him in 2021 and they have been rewarded handsomely. Danso has finally found a home at Lens and has appeared 36 times in 21\/22 and 31 times so far in 22\/23 for the French club while being their mainstay in defence. At 24, he seems to be peaking and this might be the right time for a top club to take a chance on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>Danso is very good at engaged defending. He has good physicality and pace which helps him close down dangers early, win the ball with good strength and outmuscle opponents when they try to dribble past him. He\u2019s an aggressive tackler and very aware blocker. Once Danso has locked on to the attacker, it\u2019s really hard to get past him. But Danso can be better when it comes to positioning and defensive space, when he doesn\u2019t have an obvious opponent to lock on to. His reading of the game, especially when there are quick passes and switches going on, can be improved. He often recovers with his physicality and speed, even if he judges the danger late, but on some occasions, that isn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending: <\/strong>Danso is strong in the air. Not only does he boast a very good aerial win % (72.2% in Ligue 1 this year) but he also does so after attempting many aerial duels. And it\u2019s no surprise when you see him in action. He boasts a great mix of jump, strength and technique to constantly outmuscle and head cleanly. He has a few headed goals from set pieces as well. This is one category with no issues at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Danso is deceptively technical. His lanky frame and running style don\u2019t suggest so, but he\u2019s very good on the ball and has the confidence to carry and pass under pressure. He often dribbles his way out of tense situations and is able to kickstart the attack from the back with an aggressive carry and pass. He comes across as a better carrier than passer, capable of driving his way through the middle easily. His passing is good without being great. He is safe, tidy and progressive enough. He has some signature passes through the middle, but probably isn\u2019t as varied in his switches and passing angles on either side. His passing is definitely good, but maybe not as strong as some of the others on our list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Danso came across better than I imagined. He\u2019s improved leaps and bounds at Lens and is well-rounded enough to not have any weaknesses to his game. He has slight improvements to make in his defensive awareness and passing, to really be at home in a top team, but he has enough quality, traits and personality to take a chance on.

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 4: Antonio Silva, Benfica, 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History: <\/strong>Born in Viseu, Portugal, Antonio played in multiple Portuguese youth clubs until being picked up by Benfica academy at the age of 12. He made his professional debut for Benfica B in April, 2022 and was a key player for the side that won the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League. He defied expectations by impressing manager Rodger Schmidt in the 22\/23 season and leapfrogging Tom\u00e1s Araujo and Jan Vertonghen to play for the senior team. An Otamendi suspension gave him the chance to start in August, 2022 and since then he hasn\u2019t been dropped even after the return of Otamendi. He\u2019s racked up 39 appearances this season and won Primeira Liga Defender of the Month for September 2022 and October\/November 2022. His performances made him sign a contract extension to 2027, increasing his buyout clause to \u20ac100m. At the rate at which he\u2019s going, a top team could be tempted to pay that amount soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>Antonio loves a tackle. He ranks very highly for dribblers tackled and has a very no-nonsense approach to get stuck in and not allow dribblers past him. His strength, aggression and defensive awareness are key to ensure he comes up with the ball more often than not. That said, Antonio isn\u2019t the fastest player in the world. At times, very quick dribblers have shown to beat him especially if he\u2019s dragged into wider areas on the right. Antonio avoids such situations with proactive tackling and smart positioning IQ. His body orientation and awareness always give him a great chance to avoid getting beaten, as he showed many times in Benfica\u2019s game against PSG, where Mbappe couldn\u2019t beat Antonio as often as he would have liked. Antonio is also very smart in playing the offside trap and is usually the positionally-aware cover player beside Otamendi, who is more aggressive. His maturity in marshaling the defence even at such a young age, shines through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong>.Antonio is aerially good. His positioning and tall frame usually put him in the right spot to clear away danger. He\u2019s great at winning headers at both ends, boasting 5 goals this season with 4 of them being strong headers and 1 being a cheeky backheel in a crowd during a set piece. He has generated 18 shots from set pieces, which is more than what Maguire, Lindelof and Varane have generated combined this season. His aerial ability in defence isn\u2019t as great as his on-ground defending. His 62% aerial win % this year isn\u2019t that high and it can be argued that for a well-built tall defender, he can be more physical in the air to put off competitors, but that can be expected to improve since he\u2019s just a teenager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>On the ball Antonio is extremely secure. He boasts 98 percentile for pass completion while having pass attempts in the 90 percentile. But it\u2019s his passing range that stands out well too. He loves playing switches and diagonals and executes medium and long passes with precision. He has played the most accurate long balls per 90 in the league (6.2). Antonio is great in the 1st phase. He asks for the ball and uses smart positioning and carrying to beat the press. For a tall guy, he dribbles out of pressure well and is able to be decisive in build up. His composure and intellect show in possession nicely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Antonio\u2019s profile is excellent and he is a very high IQ and technical CB. His mental aspects in terms of taking the opportunity he got this year, staying in the team and displaying top consistency, composure and game reading, are excellent for a youngster. The few aspects he can get better on are just a function of experience and maturity. While he may not perform as an elite top team starter immediately next year, he could become one of Europe\u2019s best in 2 years time. Any interested club\u2019s main decision revolves around spending \u20ac100m with that caveat in mind. The price and immediate readiness are the only reasons I cut 2 marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let\u2019s move on to the LCB targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 1: Goncalo Inacio, Sporting, 21<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History: <\/strong>Born in Almada, Portugal, Inacio played for his local youth team until Sporting\u2019s famed academy picked him up when he was 12. Making his debut in July 2020 for the senior team at the age of 18, Inacio hasn\u2019t looked back since, racking up 115 appearances by the age of 21. After his debut season where he rotated a fair bit, he\u2019s now had 2 seasons as key starter with 42 and 48 appearances each and a league title win under his belt. With Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool linked, the time for a step up may be close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>During defence, <\/strong>stepping into midfield is one of In\u00e1cio\u2019s top qualities. He\u2019s a player with excellent mobility and body shape. He anticipates play well and is prepared to intervene. For someone who lacks the size of a typical centerback, showing the aggressiveness to step into midfield and end plays is critical. In\u00e1cio is a very good athlete who covers ground well. He adapts his positioning and body orientation at an above-average frequency, putting him in a better position to scan his surroundings and identify potential threats. He\u2019s very aggressive, very confident in the tackle and is quick to apply pressure on his opponents without leaving his teammates vulnerable. On the ground, he is a very good defender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong> Inacio isn\u2019t great aerially. His 185 cm frame and weaker upper body strength are big reasons for why he has a low 60% aerial win % this year, which puts him at 45 percentile among Primeira Liga centerbacks. It is one aspect he needs to improve on and it also shows in attacking set pieces where he isn\u2019t a great threat. While one can expect him to gain some strength as he ages, it might be worth noting that he will have to learn to get around his height the way other shorter CBs (Like Lisandro) do and he definitely has the traits for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Inacio is a gem in possession. He boasts 95+ percentiles for Passes attempted, progressive passing distance, progressive passes, passes into final third, carries, progressive carrying distance, progressive carries and carries into final third. If that doesn\u2019t convince you, let me detail further on why he\u2019s one of the best CBs in possession in Europe. He likes to dribble to draw out the opposition towards him, which goes in line with what top coaches like Pep Guardiola and Robert de Zerbi are doing. As he dribbles, he has the technique and vision to scan for teammates and play a pass between the lines or a switch to a wide area to release a winger or fullback. He does this often and that\u2019s the reason he\u2019s trusted a lot with the ball and is often the main receiver in the first phase. What sets him apart from other CBs who are just good passers, is that Inacio knows how to break a press with careful movement, baiting, skill and foresight on where the ball needs to go to progress up the pitch. In that sense, he is the leader in build up – something United need badly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Inacio is a gem on the ball and is versatile enough to play as wide center back or central CB in a back 3 or LCB in a back 4. A build up leader and on-ground defensive monster, the aerial gap is the only reason he doesn\u2019t get a 10 from me, but I feel that\u2019s a gap that can be improved on and mitigated via team defence . In fact, he\u2019s probably the most similar player to Lisandro Martinez in terms of profile and potential. With that in mind, it would be a great signing to alleviate Ten hag\u2019s needs for 2 high-level left-footed center-backs in the squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 2: Castello Lukeba, Lyon, 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History: <\/strong>Born in Lyon itself, Lukeba joined the academy at age 8 and has featured for the club at every level since then. He made his professional debut for the senior team in Aug 2021 and hasn\u2019t looked back since, racking up 29 appearances last year and already clocking 30 this season, all while being nominated for 2021\/22 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award. With Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan linked, the youngster is catching attention all over Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>Castello is a fighter. He has confidence and attitude in spades and never shies away from a duel. His standout attribute is his pace. He is lightning quick on the ground and that solves a lot of problems on its own. He\u2019s able to press proactively knowing he can cut out danger early. He is able to commit to a tackle knowing he can win it and even on the chance his aggression or positioning fails him, his recovery pace to handle the situation is great. As a result he\u2019s a great 1v1 duel winner and a smooth sweeper of the back line. He boasts a lot of interceptions and recoveries thanks to these traits. His positioning can still go up a level as there are rare occasions where his reliance on his pace and composure isn\u2019t enough, but that\u2019s normal for his age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong>.Castello is aerially weak. He records a 51% aerial win % in Ligue 1 this season which puts him in the bottom 20 percentile for centerbacks. Lukeba can improve aerially and all-around in terms of physicality, with strength, size and jumping height standing out as particularly weak areas of his game right now. His timing of the jump is also an issue – often seeming late or early in a duel. While he has time to fill out physically and find better ways to get around this weakness, he will have to actively do so in the near future to not let this be a gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Lukeba is a very progressive passer and carrier and is capable of handling a lot of passes as well. I\u2019d say he\u2019s a better passer than carrier, preferring to pass his way out of trouble than dribble. He has a good passing range and can comfortably pick out wingers or midfielders. His build up ability is good without being great. He\u2019s a decent carrier but his receiving back to goal and his ability to carry under pressure can improve more. I think he\u2019s a good passer and able carrier but modern demands at the highest level could require more improvement in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Lukeba is good without being great. A lot of his game needs more maturity. His positioning, aerial prowess and build up play can all do with improvement with aerial duels especially needing massive improvement. But his pace, energy, on-ground dueling and technical floor on the ball are good traits to work on. For a backup role with potential to improve, it\u2019s not a bad move at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LCB 3: Calvin Bassey, Ajax, 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History: <\/strong>Born in Italy, Bassey is a product of Leicester City’s youth system but didn’t make a senior appearance before joining Rangers on a free transfer in July 2020. He made 65 appearances over 2 seasons for Rangers and won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup. In July 2022, he signed for Ajax, with Rangers receiving the highest transfer fee in their history. Slotting straight in as the departing Lisandro Martinez\u2019s replacement, he\u2019s racked up 37 appearances in the same role. Should Lisandro\u2019s replacement become Lisandro\u2019s deputy? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>The Nigerian is brilliant at tackling, intercepting, and helping his team in pressing the opposition. He is not just a no-nonsense defender and has a method to his madness. His exceptional ball reading skills allow him to time his move ideally to stop the opposition. At Rangers, Van Bronckhorst\u2019s decision to play a more attacking side has inadvertently helped Calvin become a brilliant defender, who is at his best in one-on-one situations. Bassey has great strength and physically dominates a lot of opponents. His tackles won and recoveries are in the 90+ percentile this season, showcasing his great awareness coupled with his ready aggression. The Nigerian defender steps up very often and is a very proactive and aggressive defender. Bassey relies on his physical strength a lot and probably needs to be more cautious in duels especially higher up the pitch, where the chances of getting caught up and conceding a turnover are high. But overall, he has the right mindset and a good reading of the game, coupled with great physicals. Some maturing in terms of timing and willingness to duel is all that\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending: <\/strong>Calvin Bassey is pretty strong in aerial duels, he has a good leap and often jumps higher than his opponent. He defends set-pieces really well and is almost always well-positioned. For most part, Bassey has great anticipation when dealing with crosses and his positioning is great. He is composed and comfortable in his own box and looks very dominant. In fact, it can be said that this year Bassey has improved upon an Ajax squad gap of being aerially vulnerable, an issue with the previous pairing of Lisandro-Timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>On the ball, Calvin Bassey is not a very adventurous passer. In build up, he mainly goes for the safe option which means that he plays plenty of sideways passes or even backwards to the goalkeeper. When he receives the ball in the build-up, he often takes a few touches forward assessing his options. Bassey has decent vision \u2013 he spots his teammates in space well, but his delivery is pretty inaccurate, despite having a good long passing technique. His short passing technique is also good and is capable of playing one-touch passes with both his right and left foot. Sometimes he seems to take too long before releasing the ball. It has happened a few times that he got himself into trouble as the opponent managed to pressure Bassey into making mistakes on the ball. Despite this, Bassey generally is pretty composed on the ball and does not panic if he is being put under pressure near his own penalty box. His receiving skills from ground passes are good, but he occasionally struggles to control aerial passes. This can be a problem if he\u2019s put under high pressure. He needs to be more comfortable playing forward passes and release the ball sooner at times. It would take some time to get used to playing progessive passes, but I think he has the potential to get better at this. This is one aspect he lacks a bit compared to Lisandro\/Timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>A different profile from our other targets, Bassey is strong aerially and is a great, albeit slightly over-zealous, defender on the ground. Most of his improvements are required in carrying and passing, but even they are above average at the very least. He\u2019s a well-rounded profile, who\u2019s not elite at anything yet, but also has no weaknesses. It\u2019s a decent option for a reliable backup with room to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary
<\/strong>
For the RCB role, with a view to immediately or eventually take over Raphael Varane, the best option is Napoli\u2019s Kim Min-Jae<\/strong>. He is competent and consistent in all the parameters required for a top team CB today. At the rumoured release clause, United have to put in a bid for sure. Rated lower mainly because he\u2019s more expensive and younger, Antonio Silva, <\/strong>Benfica\u2019s wonderkid, <\/strong>is the next big thing and has amazing traits and elite potential, if United have the money for him. After them, Ajax\u2019s Jurrien Timber<\/strong> and RC Lens’ Kevin Danso <\/strong>are great options who each have solid traits to fit in, with a view to getting better as they peak. Beyond these options, Tanguy Nianzou<\/strong>, Jean-Clair Todibo<\/strong> and Axel Disasi<\/strong>, should be monitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the LCB role, with a view to obtain a backup for Lisandro Martinez who can satisfy Ten hag\u2019s 2 left-footed CB options requirement, Goncalo Inacio <\/strong>of Sporting is the best option, who\u2019s profile and ceiling are very similar to Lisandro. After him, Lyon\u2019s Castello Lukeba <\/strong>is a good option who seems to have many desirable traits but needs maturity and improvement in some of them to shine. Finally, Calvin Bassey, <\/strong>Lisandro\u2019s replacement at Ajax, also has good potential to be Lisandro\u2019s backup at United. Facundo Medina<\/strong>, Arthur Theate<\/strong> and Stanley N\u2019Soki<\/strong> should be monitored as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for reading this far. I hope the new style of scouting and assessing and the long detailed explanations were more help than a turn-off. Let me know your thoughts on Twitter. (@thedevilsdna<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n


(Credits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data: fbref<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images: Getty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transfer details: transfermarkt)<\/p>\n\n\n

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[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Welcome to another one of these scouting exercises. In case you missed them, I\u2019ve previously done RB, GK, CF, DLP and DM lists for Manchester United. Today, I\u2019ll be diving into a position which might not seem as urgent as some of the aforementioned critical starting gaps, but […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":273849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

Welcome to another one of these scouting exercises. In case you missed them, I\u2019ve previously done RB<\/a>, GK<\/a>, CF<\/a>, DLP<\/a> and DM<\/a> lists for Manchester United. Today, I\u2019ll be diving into a position which might not seem as urgent as some of the aforementioned critical starting gaps, but is a genuine area to be addressed in coming windows - Centerback.

I\u2019m going to go out on a limb here to make a prediction - I think Ten Hag will want a new right-sided centerback (RCB) and left-sided centerback (LCB) within the next 2 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The LCB need comes from his preference of wanting a set of 2 left-footed CBs and 2 right-footed CBs for each side. We have seen that he likes this setup for 2 reasons <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. For the passing angles a left-footer provides from LCB
2. Based on the recent reveal of why he plays Lindelof at LCB instead of Maguire - for rest defence reasons when a CB has to press ahead and cover his side with his dominant foot.

The LCB would ideally be a backup to Lisandro Martinez, who\u2019s had an excellent season and looks set to remain our mainstay for a few years, so we can afford a younger or more raw backup type profile here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n



The RCB need has a more starter-level concern. While Raphael Varane has been excellent in helping United defend in their box, the concerns on the ball have shown up from time to time, especially in the last few months without Eriksen ahead of the defence. Varane is limited in build up and that coupled with De Gea being poor at it, often puts heavy responsibility on Lisandro to get us out of our half. Ten Hag\u2019s plan of keeping club captain Harry Maguire as the designated RCB backup to give him the chance to usurp Varane and partner Lisandro, hasn\u2019t worked either. Maguire hasn\u2019t seemed as good from RCB as he used to be from LCB under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. There is a RCB gap. A high ceiling wonderkid or straight up starter level talent who can take over sooner rather than later would be one idea on Ten Hag\u2019s mind.

<\/strong>The shortlists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve read any of my previous scouting pieces, it might come as a surprise to you that I\u2019m not going to follow the same stats-heavy process for center-backs. My reasons:

1. Defensive stats make no sense for CBs
A player with more tackles or interceptions doesn\u2019t make him a better defender. Defensive volume is a bad way to judge defensive quality. Usually top CBs have the lowest defensive volume in the league. It could also really vary based on their roles (stopper, cover). And even less doesn\u2019t mean good. There is just no correlation

2. Fbref\u2019s progression stats are not ideal to judge defenders<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fbref\u2019s new definitions of progression cut the defensive 40% of the pitch and include passes to the byline. Defenders and especially center-backs suffer the most from these changes and only very high line CBs who pass a lot from the center of the pitch (usually top team CBs) accrue.

Taking these out of the equation leaves almost nothing for a stats-based methodology, which is why I\u2019m going with the eye test (rejoice, eye test > stats folks!) for this position. I have gone through center-backs in the top 7 leagues who were U27 and right-footed or U25 and left-footed and scored the realistic options on 4 basic criteria based on hours of footage of each of them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Progression - Their ability on the ball both in terms of passing and carrying to handle build up and advance the game comfortably and consistently\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Security - Their security on the ball during progression<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Aerial duels - Ability in the air to win duels and be a set piece threat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Ground duels - Ability and positioning on the ground to press, cover or tackle well<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without further ado, here are the results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n



Let\u2019s take a look at the RCBs first. Probably not a big reveal, but I was most impressed by Napoli\u2019s Kim Min-Jae and think he\u2019s the closest thing to a full package, who is also near the peak age for a CB. Nianzou impressed me more than I thought. Timber is a name that has been thrown around a lot and he looks good.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s really tough to pick just a few players to highlight. But I\u2019m going to do mini profiles for the best + realistic options: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 1: Kin Min-Jae<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 2: Jurrien Timber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 3: Kevin Danso<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 4: Antonio Silva<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, let\u2019s take a look at the LCB list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The LCB list is shorter due to two issues - our restriction of players under age 25 and there being less left-footed players in general. Lot of teams play with multiple right footers in the back line. I\u2019ve already done a scout report for Facundo Medina here. Other than him, I will be detailing the 3 best options: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 1: Goncalo Inacio
LCB 2: Castello Lukeba\u00a0
LCB 3: Calvin Bassey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mini Reports

<\/strong>As mentioned before, since I\u2019m not using stats to assess CBs in this piece, I won\u2019t be posting pizza charts either. They\u2019ll just be misleading. I\u2019ll try to detail the reports a bit more to compensate for that.

Let\u2019s start with the RCB targets first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 1: Kim Min-Jae, Napoli, 26<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career History:<\/strong> Born in South Korea, Kim made his way to K League club Jeonbuk by the age of 19. A key player for the 17\/18 season, his performances earned him a K League Young Player of the Year and K League Best XI for the year. In January 2019, he moved to Beijing Guoan in the CSL. His impressive performances caught the eye of Europe with Tottenham strongly linked but unable to negotiate a transfer fee. Fenerbache was the club to profit from his services as he played the 21\/22 season for the Turkish club and was once again impressive, making it to the S\u00fcper Lig Team of the Season. In July 2022, Napoli paid \u20ac18m to replace the outgoing Kalidou Koulibaly and have since been enjoying a great year from the South Korean who should again make the Serie A team of the season easily. There\u2019s no surprise every top club wants him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending:<\/strong> Kim\u2019s biggest strength is his defending on the ground. He is very positionally aware and mixes aggression, speed and strength to constantly flush out dangers when the opposition has the ball. He is very comfortable stepping out and tackling an oncoming dribbler. He ranks 97 percentile for % of dribblers tackled and 96 percentile for challenges lost. It is really tough to get past him. He has a very keen sense of the game and challenges the moment he sees a bad touch or an opponent he can overpower by speed or physicality. Using a mix of defensive combinations like this, he is able to come out best against different types of attacking players. His good positioning also allows him to make many shot blocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong> Aerially, Kim is good. He ranks 75 percentile for Aerial win % even after facing a lot of aerial duels. He doesn\u2019t shy away from them at all and from what I\u2019ve noticed, even the duels he doesn\u2019t win cleanly, his upper body strength destabilizes the opponent enough for it not to become a problem. His willingness to get into duels and trouble the attacker as much as he can or simply win it cleanly, make getting into a tussle with Kim almost a zero-reward situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Kim is an excellent passer. He is a volume passer (ranks 99 percentile for passes attempted and completed) while being very safe (ranks 93 percentile on pass %) and progressive (99 percentile on progressive passing distance). He can constantly receive the ball in good areas and pass out of them, whether it\u2019s crisp short passes or long switches to the wing. Having played a lot of LCB this year, he loves the switch to the right flank. Combined with his excellent carrying, Kim is really a modern CB who is very comfortable with the ball. He boasts 99 percentile on carries and 96 percentile on progressive carry distance as well. He is very comfortable playing out under pressure or driving into space if he isn\u2019t under pressure and then picking out smart passes of all ranges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> I didn\u2019t highlight any cons for Kim, because honestly, there are none. What you\u2019re looking at is a complete CB, capable of defending on the ground and in the air, has the physicality to match his defensive IQ, is a dream on the ball in terms of passing and carrying, has the technical range and execution to be a starter for a top possession based team and is at the perfect peak age to take a gamble on. And it's not even a big gamble! Apparently, Kim has a release clause of \u20ac45m that activates for 15 days when the summer transfer window starts. At that price, this is simply a steal for a world-class player. Such opportunities don\u2019t come around often. Manchester United have to consider this. I rarely score a prospect 10, but this is as perfect as it gets from all angles.

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 10\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 2: Jurrien Timber, Ajax, 21<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career History:<\/strong> Born in the Netherlands, Timber joined the Feyenoord academy at 6, but was picked by the Ajax academy at 13. At 18, he made his Ajax debut in the 19\/20 season. Since then, his importance and involvement have only increased as he featured 30 times in 20\/21, 43 times in 21\/22 and has already featured 41 times in 22\/23. With 100+ appearances for Ajax, 15 appearances for the national team, a contract till 2025 and constant links to top clubs, a summer 2023 move is likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending:<\/strong> Timber reads the game well and has a good command of his area. His pressing, speed of coverage and intensity in the duel, help him step out and flush out danger early. His anticipation is at a very good level. You can expect the proactiveness and pressing ability of Lisandro Martinez here. One issue though is Timber\u2019s positioning and concentration. He is prone to the odd error which usually stems from either poor positioning, over-zealous pressing or simply a lapse in concentration that allows a runner or a pass in his blind space. It\u2019s one area he needs to improve on, but given his young age, it seems realistic for this to get better as he gains experience and maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong> Timber is below average in the air. While he has a good jump and willingness to duel, he loses aerial duels more often than not (Aerial win % of just 48% this season in the Eredivisie). His balance, upper body strength and heading technique seem to be the major issues that limit him. He doesn\u2019t generate enough power even in the few times he wins the ball in the air. Like Lisandro, he tries to avoid the necessity for aerial duels via proactive challenges and pressing, but he\u2019s comparatively less effective at it, as of now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession:<\/strong> This is where Timber really shines. His passing, close control and carrying technique are reliable and on the higher side for center-backs. He ranks 99 percentile in the Eredivisie for progressive passes, progressive carries, carries, passes completed, pass completion % and passes received, which indicates a technically sound defender who can guarantee progression and safety in volume. He is the epitome of the new breed of center-backs (like John Stones) who are simply so good on the ball, they are as good as midfielder playmakers in build up. His press resistance is a big reason why he rarely loses the ball in possession. His tactical awareness when playing out from the back, in terms of positioning to receive passes or movement to create spaces for the team to progress, is excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict:<\/strong> I have read many takes online on Timber as a RB or DM for United, and I have to say that I don\u2019t see it. He\u2019s not played RB more than 6 times in any given season and didn\u2019t look any better than he does for CB. The mental math to want him to join, but keep him away from CB due to the combined height issue with Lisandro, doesn\u2019t have a great tactical justification. I think we\u2019re looking at a new age wonderkid CB and if United do buy him, Ten Hag will utilize him at RCB most. A few years of rotation with Varane, as Timber gains some experience and maturity to work on his weaknesses, would be a decent deal, all things considered.

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 3: Kevin Danso, Lens, 24<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career History: <\/strong>Danso was born in Austria before moving to the MK Dons academy at 6. His first taste of senior football came at Augsburg where he was a rotation player for 3 years until the age of 20. Then came the ill-fated Southampton loan term where he had only 10 appearances. But RC Lens took a punt at him in 2021 and they have been rewarded handsomely. Danso has finally found a home at Lens and has appeared 36 times in 21\/22 and 31 times so far in 22\/23 for the French club while being their mainstay in defence. At 24, he seems to be peaking and this might be the right time for a top club to take a chance on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>Danso is very good at engaged defending. He has good physicality and pace which helps him close down dangers early, win the ball with good strength and outmuscle opponents when they try to dribble past him. He\u2019s an aggressive tackler and very aware blocker. Once Danso has locked on to the attacker, it\u2019s really hard to get past him. But Danso can be better when it comes to positioning and defensive space, when he doesn\u2019t have an obvious opponent to lock on to. His reading of the game, especially when there are quick passes and switches going on, can be improved. He often recovers with his physicality and speed, even if he judges the danger late, but on some occasions, that isn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending: <\/strong>Danso is strong in the air. Not only does he boast a very good aerial win % (72.2% in Ligue 1 this year) but he also does so after attempting many aerial duels. And it\u2019s no surprise when you see him in action. He boasts a great mix of jump, strength and technique to constantly outmuscle and head cleanly. He has a few headed goals from set pieces as well. This is one category with no issues at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Danso is deceptively technical. His lanky frame and running style don\u2019t suggest so, but he\u2019s very good on the ball and has the confidence to carry and pass under pressure. He often dribbles his way out of tense situations and is able to kickstart the attack from the back with an aggressive carry and pass. He comes across as a better carrier than passer, capable of driving his way through the middle easily. His passing is good without being great. He is safe, tidy and progressive enough. He has some signature passes through the middle, but probably isn\u2019t as varied in his switches and passing angles on either side. His passing is definitely good, but maybe not as strong as some of the others on our list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Danso came across better than I imagined. He\u2019s improved leaps and bounds at Lens and is well-rounded enough to not have any weaknesses to his game. He has slight improvements to make in his defensive awareness and passing, to really be at home in a top team, but he has enough quality, traits and personality to take a chance on.

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RCB 4: Antonio Silva, Benfica, 19<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career History: <\/strong>Born in Viseu, Portugal, Antonio played in multiple Portuguese youth clubs until being picked up by Benfica academy at the age of 12. He made his professional debut for Benfica B in April, 2022 and was a key player for the side that won the 2021-22 UEFA Youth League. He defied expectations by impressing manager Rodger Schmidt in the 22\/23 season and leapfrogging Tom\u00e1s Araujo and Jan Vertonghen to play for the senior team. An Otamendi suspension gave him the chance to start in August, 2022 and since then he hasn\u2019t been dropped even after the return of Otamendi. He\u2019s racked up 39 appearances this season and won Primeira Liga Defender of the Month for September 2022 and October\/November 2022. His performances made him sign a contract extension to 2027, increasing his buyout clause to \u20ac100m. At the rate at which he\u2019s going, a top team could be tempted to pay that amount soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>Antonio loves a tackle. He ranks very highly for dribblers tackled and has a very no-nonsense approach to get stuck in and not allow dribblers past him. His strength, aggression and defensive awareness are key to ensure he comes up with the ball more often than not. That said, Antonio isn\u2019t the fastest player in the world. At times, very quick dribblers have shown to beat him especially if he\u2019s dragged into wider areas on the right. Antonio avoids such situations with proactive tackling and smart positioning IQ. His body orientation and awareness always give him a great chance to avoid getting beaten, as he showed many times in Benfica\u2019s game against PSG, where Mbappe couldn\u2019t beat Antonio as often as he would have liked. Antonio is also very smart in playing the offside trap and is usually the positionally-aware cover player beside Otamendi, who is more aggressive. His maturity in marshaling the defence even at such a young age, shines through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong>.Antonio is aerially good. His positioning and tall frame usually put him in the right spot to clear away danger. He\u2019s great at winning headers at both ends, boasting 5 goals this season with 4 of them being strong headers and 1 being a cheeky backheel in a crowd during a set piece. He has generated 18 shots from set pieces, which is more than what Maguire, Lindelof and Varane have generated combined this season. His aerial ability in defence isn\u2019t as great as his on-ground defending. His 62% aerial win % this year isn\u2019t that high and it can be argued that for a well-built tall defender, he can be more physical in the air to put off competitors, but that can be expected to improve since he\u2019s just a teenager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>On the ball Antonio is extremely secure. He boasts 98 percentile for pass completion while having pass attempts in the 90 percentile. But it\u2019s his passing range that stands out well too. He loves playing switches and diagonals and executes medium and long passes with precision. He has played the most accurate long balls per 90 in the league (6.2). Antonio is great in the 1st phase. He asks for the ball and uses smart positioning and carrying to beat the press. For a tall guy, he dribbles out of pressure well and is able to be decisive in build up. His composure and intellect show in possession nicely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Antonio\u2019s profile is excellent and he is a very high IQ and technical CB. His mental aspects in terms of taking the opportunity he got this year, staying in the team and displaying top consistency, composure and game reading, are excellent for a youngster. The few aspects he can get better on are just a function of experience and maturity. While he may not perform as an elite top team starter immediately next year, he could become one of Europe\u2019s best in 2 years time. Any interested club\u2019s main decision revolves around spending \u20ac100m with that caveat in mind. The price and immediate readiness are the only reasons I cut 2 marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 8\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now let\u2019s move on to the LCB targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 1: Goncalo Inacio, Sporting, 21<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Career History: <\/strong>Born in Almada, Portugal, Inacio played for his local youth team until Sporting\u2019s famed academy picked him up when he was 12. Making his debut in July 2020 for the senior team at the age of 18, Inacio hasn\u2019t looked back since, racking up 115 appearances by the age of 21. After his debut season where he rotated a fair bit, he\u2019s now had 2 seasons as key starter with 42 and 48 appearances each and a league title win under his belt. With Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool linked, the time for a step up may be close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>During defence, <\/strong>stepping into midfield is one of In\u00e1cio\u2019s top qualities. He\u2019s a player with excellent mobility and body shape. He anticipates play well and is prepared to intervene. For someone who lacks the size of a typical centerback, showing the aggressiveness to step into midfield and end plays is critical. In\u00e1cio is a very good athlete who covers ground well. He adapts his positioning and body orientation at an above-average frequency, putting him in a better position to scan his surroundings and identify potential threats. He\u2019s very aggressive, very confident in the tackle and is quick to apply pressure on his opponents without leaving his teammates vulnerable. On the ground, he is a very good defender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong> Inacio isn\u2019t great aerially. His 185 cm frame and weaker upper body strength are big reasons for why he has a low 60% aerial win % this year, which puts him at 45 percentile among Primeira Liga centerbacks. It is one aspect he needs to improve on and it also shows in attacking set pieces where he isn\u2019t a great threat. While one can expect him to gain some strength as he ages, it might be worth noting that he will have to learn to get around his height the way other shorter CBs (Like Lisandro) do and he definitely has the traits for that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Inacio is a gem in possession. He boasts 95+ percentiles for Passes attempted, progressive passing distance, progressive passes, passes into final third, carries, progressive carrying distance, progressive carries and carries into final third. If that doesn\u2019t convince you, let me detail further on why he\u2019s one of the best CBs in possession in Europe. He likes to dribble to draw out the opposition towards him, which goes in line with what top coaches like Pep Guardiola and Robert de Zerbi are doing. As he dribbles, he has the technique and vision to scan for teammates and play a pass between the lines or a switch to a wide area to release a winger or fullback. He does this often and that\u2019s the reason he\u2019s trusted a lot with the ball and is often the main receiver in the first phase. What sets him apart from other CBs who are just good passers, is that Inacio knows how to break a press with careful movement, baiting, skill and foresight on where the ball needs to go to progress up the pitch. In that sense, he is the leader in build up - something United need badly<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Inacio is a gem on the ball and is versatile enough to play as wide center back or central CB in a back 3 or LCB in a back 4. A build up leader and on-ground defensive monster, the aerial gap is the only reason he doesn\u2019t get a 10 from me, but I feel that\u2019s a gap that can be improved on and mitigated via team defence . In fact, he\u2019s probably the most similar player to Lisandro Martinez in terms of profile and potential. With that in mind, it would be a great signing to alleviate Ten hag\u2019s needs for 2 high-level left-footed center-backs in the squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 2: Castello Lukeba, Lyon, 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career History: <\/strong>Born in Lyon itself, Lukeba joined the academy at age 8 and has featured for the club at every level since then. He made his professional debut for the senior team in Aug 2021 and hasn\u2019t looked back since, racking up 29 appearances last year and already clocking 30 this season, all while being nominated for 2021\/22 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award. With Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan linked, the youngster is catching attention all over Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>Castello is a fighter. He has confidence and attitude in spades and never shies away from a duel. His standout attribute is his pace. He is lightning quick on the ground and that solves a lot of problems on its own. He\u2019s able to press proactively knowing he can cut out danger early. He is able to commit to a tackle knowing he can win it and even on the chance his aggression or positioning fails him, his recovery pace to handle the situation is great. As a result he\u2019s a great 1v1 duel winner and a smooth sweeper of the back line. He boasts a lot of interceptions and recoveries thanks to these traits. His positioning can still go up a level as there are rare occasions where his reliance on his pace and composure isn\u2019t enough, but that\u2019s normal for his age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending:<\/strong>.Castello is aerially weak. He records a 51% aerial win % in Ligue 1 this season which puts him in the bottom 20 percentile for centerbacks. Lukeba can improve aerially and all-around in terms of physicality, with strength, size and jumping height standing out as particularly weak areas of his game right now. His timing of the jump is also an issue - often seeming late or early in a duel. While he has time to fill out physically and find better ways to get around this weakness, he will have to actively do so in the near future to not let this be a gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>Lukeba is a very progressive passer and carrier and is capable of handling a lot of passes as well. I\u2019d say he\u2019s a better passer than carrier, preferring to pass his way out of trouble than dribble. He has a good passing range and can comfortably pick out wingers or midfielders. His build up ability is good without being great. He\u2019s a decent carrier but his receiving back to goal and his ability to carry under pressure can improve more. I think he\u2019s a good passer and able carrier but modern demands at the highest level could require more improvement in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>Lukeba is good without being great. A lot of his game needs more maturity. His positioning, aerial prowess and build up play can all do with improvement with aerial duels especially needing massive improvement. But his pace, energy, on-ground dueling and technical floor on the ball are good traits to work on. For a backup role with potential to improve, it\u2019s not a bad move at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LCB 3: Calvin Bassey, Ajax, 23<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Career History: <\/strong>Born in Italy, Bassey is a product of Leicester City's youth system but didn't make a senior appearance before joining Rangers on a free transfer in July 2020. He made 65 appearances over 2 seasons for Rangers and won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup. In July 2022, he signed for Ajax, with Rangers receiving the highest transfer fee in their history. Slotting straight in as the departing Lisandro Martinez\u2019s replacement, he\u2019s racked up 37 appearances in the same role. Should Lisandro\u2019s replacement become Lisandro\u2019s deputy? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On-ground defending: <\/strong>The Nigerian is brilliant at tackling, intercepting, and helping his team in pressing the opposition. He is not just a no-nonsense defender and has a method to his madness. His exceptional ball reading skills allow him to time his move ideally to stop the opposition. At Rangers, Von Bronckhorst\u2019s decision to play a more attacking side has inadvertently helped Calvin become a brilliant defender, who is at his best in one-on-one situations. Bassey has great strength and physically dominates a lot of opponents. His tackles won and recoveries are in the 90+ percentile this season, showcasing his great awareness coupled with his ready aggression. The Nigerian defender steps up very often and is a very proactive and aggressive defender. Bassey relies on his physical strength a lot and probably needs to be more cautious in duels especially higher up the pitch, where the chances of getting caught up and conceding a turnover are high. But overall, he has the right mindset and a good reading of the game, coupled with great physicals. Some maturing in terms of timing and willingness to duel is all that\u2019s needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial defending: <\/strong>Calvin Bassey is pretty strong in aerial duels, he has a good leap and often jumps higher than his opponent. He defends set-pieces really well and is almost always well-positioned. For most part, Bassey has great anticipation when dealing with crosses and his positioning is great. He is composed and comfortable in his own box and looks very dominant. In fact, it can be said that this year Bassey has improved upon an Ajax squad gap of being aerially vulnerable, an issue with the previous pairing of Lisandro-Timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In possession: <\/strong>On the ball, Calvin Bassey is not a very adventurous passer. In build up, he mainly goes for the safe option which means that he plays plenty of sideways passes or even backwards to the goalkeeper. When he receives the ball in the build-up, he often takes a few touches forward assessing his options. Bassey has decent vision \u2013 he spots his teammates in space well, but his delivery is pretty inaccurate, despite having a good long passing technique. His short passing technique is also good and is capable of playing one-touch passes with both his right and left foot. Sometimes he seems to take too long before releasing the ball. It has happened a few times that he got himself into trouble as the opponent managed to pressure Bassey into making mistakes on the ball. Despite this, Bassey generally is pretty composed on the ball and does not panic if he is being put under pressure near his own penalty box. His receiving skills from ground passes are good, but he occasionally struggles to control aerial passes. This can be a problem if he\u2019s put under high pressure. He needs to be more comfortable playing forward passes and release the ball sooner at times. It would take some time to get used to playing progessive passes, but I think he has the potential to get better at this. This is one aspect he lacks a bit compared to Lisandro\/Timber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Verdict: <\/strong>A different profile from our other targets, Bassey is strong aerially and is a great, albeit slightly over-zealous, defender on the ground. Most of his improvements are required in carrying and passing, but even they are above average at the very least. He\u2019s a well-rounded profile, who\u2019s not elite at anything yet, but also has no weaknesses. It\u2019s a decent option for a reliable backup with room to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Devil\u2019s DNA Score: 7\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/strong>
<\/strong>
For the RCB role, with a view to immediately or eventually take over Raphael Varane, the best option is Napoli\u2019s Kim Min-Jae<\/strong>. He is competent and consistent in all the parameters required for a top team CB today. At the rumoured release clause, United have to put in a bid for sure. Rated lower mainly because he\u2019s more expensive and younger, Antonio Silva, <\/strong>Benfica\u2019s wonderkid, <\/strong>is the next big thing and has amazing traits and elite potential, if United have the money for him. After them, Ajax\u2019s Jurrien Timber<\/strong> and Monaco\u2019s Kevin Danso <\/strong>are great options who each have solid traits to fit in, with a view to getting better as they peak. Beyond these options, Tanguy Nianzou<\/strong>, Jean-Clair Todibo<\/strong> and Axel Disasi<\/strong>, should be monitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the LCB role, with a view to obtain a backup for Lisandro Martinez who can satisfy Ten hag\u2019s 2 left-footed CB options requirement, Goncalo Inacio <\/strong>of Sporting is the best option, who\u2019s profile and ceiling are very similar to Lisandro. After him, Lyon\u2019s Castello Lukeba <\/strong>is a good option who seems to have many desirable traits but needs maturity and improvement in some of them to shine. Finally, Calvin Bassey, <\/strong>Lisandro\u2019s replacement at Ajax, also has good potential to be Lisandro\u2019s backup at United. Facundo Medina<\/strong>, Arthur Theate<\/strong> and Stanley N\u2019Soki<\/strong> should be monitored as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you for reading this far. I hope the new style of scouting and assessing and the long detailed explanations were more help than a turn-off. Let me know your thoughts on Twitter. (@thedevilsdna<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n


(Credits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data: fbref<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images: Getty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Transfer details: transfermarkt)<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,8,1],"tags":[11,12,30,45,254,304,308,309,69,25,287,307,311,303,306,305,310,17,29,20,312,288,21],"class_list":["post-273840","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-scr","category-tft","category-wonderkids","tag-manchesterunited","tag-manutd","tag-mufc-2","tag-uefa-2","tag-ajax-2","tag-antonio-silva","tag-calvin-bassey","tag-castello-lukeba","tag-champions-league","tag-epl","tag-erik-ten-hag","tag-goncalo-inacio","tag-harry-maguire","tag-jurrien-timber","tag-kevin-danso","tag-kim-min-jae","tag-lisandro-martinez","tag-manchester-united","tag-mufc","tag-premier-league","tag-raphael-varane","tag-ten-hag","tag-uefa"],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nSearch for a CB: RCB & LCB Shortlists - thedevilsdna.com<\/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:\/\/thedevilsdna.com\/?p=273840\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Search for a CB: RCB & LCB Shortlists - thedevilsdna.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Welcome to another one of these scouting exercises. 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