The Ligue 1 star who could solve Man Utd's midfield problems

Tom Weber

• Updated: 16 Dec 2023 13:13 GMT
• 4 min read

Maxence Caqueret bossed Olympique Lyon's midfield against Monaco and the player is someone Man Utd should seriously look at.

Lyon have endured a torrid season, but they have now won back-to-back games to climb out of the automatic relegation spots. The last two matches, a 3-0 win over struggling Toulouse and a 1-0 upset of erstwhile title hopefuls Monaco, have shown that the fallen Ligue 1 giants still boast a squad with some exceptional players.

Against Monaco, central midfielder Maxence Caqueret stood out in particular and earned rave reviews for his performance. The 23-year-old boasts a potent mix of technical skill and athleticism and he has the brains to go along with his footballing ability. Unfazed when under pressure and in possession, Caqueret can be influential in both directions even if his attacking numbers are unspectacular - but that's not his game.

Caqueret is a facilitator, not a scorer. He glides through midfield but does not forget his defensive responsibilities as part of a midfield two alongside Corentin Tolisso. His low centre of gravity means that he can easily turn his way out of difficult situations and elude opposition players. Yet despite his elegance, the Frenchman is not afraid to get stuck in and do the dirty work.

Man Utd's ideal midfielder?

Given Lyon's struggles this term, Caqueret's reputation has also suffered. This is visible in data experts SciSports giving the 23-year-old a significant downgrade in terms of how they rate his overall ability over the last six months and his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) has also suffered a steep decline, plummeting from a peak of €38 million to just €17m.

Yet, Caqueret still ranks as one of Ligue 1's best midfielders, with his passing ability and numbers deemed to be miles ahead of his peers in the division, particularly when it comes to chance creation, being only rivalled by the celebrated Enzo Le Fee in that department.

His decline in transfer value could make him an attractive option for clubs in 2024. While the midfield is not one of Manchester United's most pressing issues, it could quickly become one should Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and perhaps even Scott McTominay depart next year.

Caqueret perhaps isn't the destroyer that Man Utd need, but he does boast the skillset and defensive awareness to be an asset to Erik ten Hag's side if he has the right partner alongside him. Indeed, SciSports believe that the 23-year-old has the potential to become a much better player at Old Trafford than the likes of Sofyan Amrabat, McTominay and Eriksen.

The fact that he is well-suited to United is also evident when we consult SciSports' Career Advice tool, which uses hundreds of data points and criteria to produce a Club Fit rating. According to the data, the Red Devils are among his best Premier League options with a good score of 77, ahead of the likes of Tottenham and Man City.