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Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech could be Manchester United’s right-wing solution

By Arjun Balaraman

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 12: Hakim Ziyech of Ajax in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and Utrecht at Johan Cruyff Arena on May 12, 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - MAY 12: Hakim Ziyech of Ajax in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Ajax and Utrecht at Johan Cruyff Arena on May 12, 2019 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) /
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While Manchester United are reportedly in talks with Borussia Dortmund for Jadon Sancho, Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech is a cheaper alternative on the right wing.

This would allow United and Solskjaer to spend their resources on more troubling issues in defense and midfield. The final defeat when United lost to Cardiff 2-0 ended a turbulent season for Manchester United.

The lone bright period, at the start of the year after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over, that peaked with the dramatic comeback victory against Paris Saint-Germain, was sandwiched between the doom and gloom of Jose Mourinho and the subsequent loss of form under the new manager.

United finished the season sixth, exactly where they were when Mourinho was sacked and missed out on qualification to the Champions League next season. To pile on the misery, crosstown rivals City won the league, and with Tottenham and Liverpool facing off in the Champions League final and Arsenal and Chelsea in the Europa League decider, United are the only member of the ‘Big Six’ guaranteed to end the season without a trophy.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows he has a massive task on his hands to bring United back to the glory it enjoyed during his playing days. After the 4-0 aggregate defeat to Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals, he said:

"We know there’s work to be done… I’ve said all along this isn’t going to change overnight and the next few years are going to be massive to get to the level of Barcelona."

Perhaps the aspect of the game Solskjaer has stressed about the most during his short stint in charge so far has been the work rate of his players. After the 5-1 win against Cardiff during the Norwegian’s first match back in December, Ole said:

"One of the things I talked about today is that a Manchester United team should never ever be outworked, doesn’t matter what team you play, you should run more than them and then your skills will give you a chance of winning again."

He echoed those sentiments again after United’s horrific showing in the humiliating 4-0 defeat to Everton in April in which the Red Devils ran over eight fewer kilometers than their opponents, saying;

"I want them to be the hardest working team. That’s what we were, under Sir Alex."

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