2 players who could replace Raphael Varane at Old Trafford

Leo Skiri Østigård

The Napoli centre back represents perhaps a more “traditional” replacement for Varane and whose star is on the rise after breaking out this season to start in 7 out of 10 of Napoli’s Serie A fixtures. At the age of just 23 as well, he represents another long term option to partner Martinez at United’s base of defence.

Unlike Inacio, Ostigard is a right footed centre back which immediately ticks the check box of playing on the right side of centre back for Ten Hag. As mentioned earlier, Ostigard represents a more traditional and like for like replacement for Varane in terms of his ball playing ability.
In the past year looking at their numbers per 90 minutes, Ostigard is ranked in the top 75 percentile for progressive passes attempted compared to Varane being in the 71 percentile progressive passes. Both are lower, in the past year, when compared to Inacio being in the 99 percentile.
Ten Hag will however know that based on the 2022-23 season, that Martinez’s ball progression and also the option of Luke Shaw on the left side can account for the lower numbers of Ostigard and Varane’s ball playing abilities.

Defensively, Ostigard’s statistics in the past year per 90 minutes make for good reading as well being ranked the 65 percentile for tackles and 67 percentile for interceptions posing similar numbers to Inacio who is ranked in the 61 percentile for tackles and 67 percentile for interceptions respectively.
Both players outshine Varane’s numbers in both metrics. However, it should be noted that Ostigard is ranked in the 93 percentile for aerials won which obliterates the numbers of both Varane and Inacio which are 59 and 35 respectively, an important distinction to be noted given they would need to partner the much shorter Martinez in United’s backline and the tendency of Premier League teams to deploy long ball tactics.

Ostigard has only broken into the Napoli first team this season and so may represent a slightly less premium price than Inacio, but a lot can change in a few months and given his age, United may want to move quickly before Europe’s elite comes calling should Ostigard continue to shine.

But what are the cons for both players?

Both Inacio and Ostigard represent a more youthful replacement for Varane and also a long term option. Each have their strengths over one another but the same question can be posed of both players. Can you compete in England’s top flight. A league that can be unforgiving, physical and ruthless on young players let alone young defenders, just ask Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra how long it took them to break into United’s starting eleven when they first entered.

All of Inacio and Ostigard’s defensive and progressive numbers make for good reading but whether it can be translated when playing in the world’s toughest league is another question and perhaps that is a question that may not be answered until one of them walk into the cauldron that is Old Trafford.