Impulsive wildcard Sadio Mane can ensure Manchester United quality

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  • Southampton ace Sadio Mane offers significant qualities that LVG's approach needs.

    Manchester United fans endured a meltdown on social media this week when it was reported that Chelsea had swooped in to hijack their seemingly done and dusted deal for Barcelona's Pedro. That went a step further when Pedro impressed on a goalscoring debut for the Blues.

    The World Cup and Champions League winning Spaniard saw his move to Stamford Bridge wrapped up in a blink of an eye, the speed and efficiency with which Chelsea landed their man only further irking the United fans who had watched their club court the winger for a month before squabbling over a relatively low buyout fee.

    Reports soon emerged that Louis Van Gaal had opted out of a deal for Pedro and decided instead to pursue Southampton's Sadio Mane. The emergence of a new transfer target however did little to quell widespread bewilderment over United’s transfer proceedings.

    Why would the Dutchman drop his interest in Pedro, an accomplished Spanish international and successful La Masia product, for a much lesser known player whose impact on the Premier League though immediate has only been brief?

    Mane represents many of the qualities that Van Gaal doesn’t always appreciate. He is supremely gifted and is an exhilarating customer on his day, but is also notoriously erratic. He doesn’t restrain his individuality and will lose possession on a regular basis, something the United boss criticised Adnan Januzaj for recently despite the Belgian’s impressive performances.

    On the face of it, Pedro seemed like an ideal fit for United. He slotted perfectly into the possession-based system that Van Gaal preaches and has a reputation for abiding by the manager’s instructions. He’s a thorough professional who works his socks off, can go past a defender and score a good chunk of goals from wide areas.

    The 28-year-old would also have brought with him a wealth of experience having won the highest of honours and scoring crucial goals on the biggest stages with Barcelona and Spain. Yet, the suggestion is that Van Gaal was hesitant, not fully convinced that the Spaniard is what his side needed.

    The Dutchman has repeatedly voiced his desire to add ‘pace’ and ‘creativity’ to his attack since Angel Di Maria’s departure. Did Pedro not check those boxes? Perhaps he did, but not entirely.

    The Barcelona forward possesses a fine burst of acceleration and is no doubt quick over the first few yards but if you want to be a stickler for detail, which Van Gaal certainly is, then it must be said that he isn’t gifted with genuine pace and isn’t among the speedier players over longer distances.

    He’s always likely to beat a man and get a shot or cross away but you wouldn’t back him to go on a mesmerising run through the defence, leaving three or four defenders in his wake. He consistently picks out the right passes and makes the right runs but perhaps the ‘creativity’ Van Gaal craves is one that’s more impulsive rather than appropriate.

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    Pedro does all the right things and he does them to perfection but every so often it’s what seems to be the wrong things – the plays that aren’t ‘textbook’ – and the unexpected, that makes the difference. Memphis Depay is crucial to United as he’s the one with the X-factor at the moment but he’s also refined enough to shoulder responsibility and be a talisman.

    Mane on the other hand can be a free spirit within United’s attacking set-up. Perhaps Van Gaal has realised that the dish he’s been preparing at Old Trafford for the past year needs a little more pizzazz. Even though United’s general play appears to be slowly coming together, there is a touch of predictability to it all that even borders on rigidity.

    Southampton’s Senegalese attacker represents a huge gamble for the Red Devils, especially in light of the fact that the Saints will drive a hard bargain following Ronald Koeman’s declaration that no more players will leave the club this summer.

    It must also be noted that Pedro is a superior player. The Spaniard’s technique is exquisite and he has the pedigree to consistently make telling contributions on the biggest stage. Mane simply isn’t anywhere near as reliable and hasn’t always exhibited the best technique.

    Nevertheless, the former Red Bull Salzburg player does have some redeeming qualities that Van Gaal may be more interested in. He is blessed with raw pace and is a powerful runner in every sense. He isn’t afraid to take on several defenders at a time and boasts a far greater physical presence than the diminutive Pedro.

    Mane is most definitely a flair player and will do things out of the ordinary on a regular basis. While he does fit well within the structure of a 4-3-3 system, he enjoys the freedom to roam across the forward line, making him difficult to pick up.

    The fact that he is proven in the Premier League and has taken to the pace and physicality of the English game with ease is a certain advantage – as is the fact that at 23, five years younger than Pedro and with plenty of scope for improvement.

    Mane is also versatile, predominantly operating down the flanks but also having experienced playing in behind the striker. Van Gaal may even see him as an option up front on occasion given his pace and strength.

    Chelsea have certainly completed a massive coup for a pittance but Van Gaal is apparently on the lookout for a maverick, not a boy scout. In Mane, United would acquire a wildcard; perhaps a little bedlam is just what Van Gaal’s well-organised attacking approach needs.

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