Rio Ferdinand raised an interesting point about Manchester United full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka when heaping praise on the new signing.
Wan-Bissaka has been exceptional for the Reds this season, finally filling the void in the right-back position.
While he is not yet the complete full-back, the 22-year-old is almost flawless defensively and deserves huge credit for his performances in the monumental defensive efforts in games against the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea this season.
Wan-Bissaka does not share the same attacking prowess as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, but is far more proficient in a defensive capacity and is seldom beaten on a one-on-one.
United great Ferdinand thinks Wan-Bissaka could work well in a new role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“One-versus-one he will match you physically, he will run with you, he will slide on the floor if you’re getting away from him a little bit more and he has to go into overdrive,” he said in an Instagram Q and A, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“He can cover people, unbelievable. He could play right side of a back three at Man United if they wanted to, I think he’d be brilliant there.”
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We doubt playing Wan-Bissaka will have yet been considered by Solskjaer to be played at right centre-back given how effective he has been on the flank.
But the United manager often opts for a five-at-the-back system with split strikers against dangerous attacking sides and we feel Wan-Bissaka could perform well alongside Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly at centre-back.
If there is a criticism of Wan-Bissaka, it is is final delivery and this role would let him focus on entirely on his defence.
Natural full-back Luke Shaw has also thrived in the left centre-back position during United’s impressive 11-game unbeaten run.
This would also afford room in the side for Diogo Dalot, who has been starved of first-team game time under Solskjaer this season.
Dalot’s talent shouldn’t be ignored and he still has a promising future at the club. The Portuguese youngster’s dribbling and crossing ability would make him suited to the right-wing back role where he is allowed more freedom in attack.
Wan-Bissaka is primarily a right-back and this is likely to be a case of if it’s not broke, don’t fix it for Solskjaer when football returns.
But playing Wan-Bissaka in a back three is certainly something to think about, particularly if there is a central defensive injury crisis at the club.
Here’s how the Reds could line-up with Wan-Bissaka in the right centre-back role.
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