West Ham and Manchester United have found their transfer business intrinsically linked this summer but the Hammers have ‘outdone’ the Red Devils.
Pending a successful medical today, West Ham will announce the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United today or tomorrow.
Talks between the Hammers and Red Devils have become something of a saga.
And there has been no shortage of drama either.
When negotiations with Man United reached stalemate recently, West Ham technical director Tim Steidten used a cunning ploy.
West Ham and Man United transfer saga at an end
He launched a move for longstanding Manchester United target Noussair Mazraoui.
Hammers News called it for what it was at the time – a Steidten masterclass to force Man United’s hand over Wan-Bissaka.
Ultimately it has worked with West Ham and Manchester United finally agreeing a £15m deal for the right-back.
The deal hit turbulence last night which delayed Wan-Bissaka’s West Ham medical to Monday.
But the 26-year-old will now be West Ham’s eighth signing of an excellent summer window.
In turn Erik ten Hag will now be signing Mazraoui – who has been seen at the airport on his way to Manchester.
Debate has raged among Manchester United fans about the sale of Wan-Bissaka.
‘West Ham have outdone Man United for transfer’
Many feel shipping out the defensive specialist is a big mistake.
Supporters have highlighted how Wan-Bissaka has been key in many of their big results in recent years.
Now an ESPN man has made a bold claim that West Ham have outdone Man United for this transfer.
Ten Hag was reportedly happy to sell Wan-Bissaka for two reasons.
Firstly because he is in the last year of his contract and Man United need to raise funds for PSR and to fund signings.
Secondly the Dutchman feels Mazraoui is superior to Wan-Bissaka going forward and better suits the style he is trying to implement at Old Trafford.
On the flip side West Ham are desperate to tighten up defensively.
The Hammers conceded a Premier League club record 74 goals last season. And the side have looked woeful defensively in pre-season.
Wan-Bissaka will join Jean-Clair Todibo – whose move to Man United was blocked by UEFA – and Max Kilman in a nearly entirely new-look West Ham defence.
And former Hammer turned ESPN pundit Don Hutchison feels Man United have downgraded by letting Wan-Bissaka join his old club.
Mazraoui ‘just a body’ for Man United
“Mazraoui, I think that’s (just) a body because I don’t think he’s better than (Diogo) Dalot,” Hutchison said on ESPN.
“I think Wan-Bissaka was a better defender, so West Ham are getting a good deal, they are getting a good player, they are getting a good defender.”
West Ham are getting a player Manchester United paid £50m for from Palace in 2019.
Yet the Wan-Bissaka deal will go on the books as a significant profit for Man United.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has explained how Manchester United are making a profit on Wan-Bissaka’s move to West Ham.
Both Mazraoui and Wan-Bissaka are the same age, 26.
So what do the statistics say about who the better player is?
Who is better Wan-Bissaka or Mazraoui?
As mentioned previously, Wan-Bissaka is known for his exceptional one-on-one defending. His standout skill is his tackling ability, which makes him highly effective in shutting down some of the best wideman around.
Last season Wan-Bissaka had a ground duel success rate of around 61%, which was actually slightly lower than Mazraoui’s 62.4%. However, Wan-Bissaka’s aerial duel success rate of 53% surpasses Mazraoui’s 46%, indicating his superior effectiveness in the air – an important stat in the Premier League.
Mazraoui is quick, but Wan-Bissaka boasts superior straight-line recovery speed, which allows him to make last-ditch tackles and recover from potential mistakes.
Man United’s new Moroccan is more versatile, though. He is able to play both as a right-back and left-back and his approach to defending is more balanced, although not as aggressive in one-on-one situations as Wan-Bissaka. Where Mazraoui excels over Wan-Bissaka is on the ball and moving up the pitch with it at speed. He contributes more to the attack than Wan-Bissaka, of that there is no doubt.
Wan-Bissaka is undoubtedly stronger defensively, particularly in direct confrontations and aerial battles, while Mazraoui offers more in terms of versatility and offensive contribution.
So it may be a case of these deals suiting all parties given Man United’s desire for a more attacking full-back and West Ham’s need for better defenders and more pace.
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