How is Brighton star a stop-gap signing at Manchester United – Opinion
Manchester United have been looking to make a move for Brighton fullback Pervis Estupinan who according to the recent reports, ‘wants a move to Old Trafford’.
Since Ruben Amorim has taken charge of the proceedings at M16, one of the most confusing parts has been the structure of full-backs in the roster at Carrington, given how his tactical structures are generally designed around a 3-4-3 or hybrid 3-2-5 system where wing-backs are not mere overlapping to produce width; they are more dynamic and multi-phase contributors who are tasked with possession, pressing, and transitions.
The left side when Erik ten Hag was in charge and even under Amorim has often lacked that needed intensity complemented by a lack of depth and offensive variation that a team as elite as Man Utd should have. Luke Shaw has been troubled by injuries, and Malacia has always had some problems since joining, leaving a void that needs both short-term quality and long-term consistency.
And this is where Pervis Estupinan enters the conversation, given how the Seagulls fullback has grown into one of the Premier League’s most tactically reliable wide defenders.
How can Estupinan elevate the structure at Old Trafford under Amorim?
If we start thinking in a way how Ruben Amorim builds up with wing backs in a 3-4-3, the two wing backs are tasked with bringing width in the first and second phases while the midfield pivots take up the spaces on the inside channels. And Estupinan is tailor-made for this given his capacity to maintain width, which helps him make third-man runs, complemented by the fact that he is aggressive in final-third combinations. And this is because, oh, how he has been playing at Brighton in a high-possession and high-pressing system, which, in a way, is very much in line with what Amorim is trying to build. But with Estupinan he is not just an attacking threat, but he possesses great defensive value in the counter-press as well.
If Amorim wants to revert to a more conservative 4-2-3-1 shape (especially in Europe), Estupinan becomes a two-way full-back given that he has the agility about him complemented by his recovery pace, which is better than Luke Shaw’s. And then he is also good at cutting inside and playing through the inside lanes. The Brighton fullback can also invert occasionally or rotate into central lanes to cover for interior rotations of Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo.
How Estupinan unlocks the left side
At the moment the current dynamics on the left back at Old Trafford are a bit underwhelming. Luke Shaw is always on the treatment table, while Malacia could be shipped out this summer. The Manchester Reds did sign Patrick Dorgu in the winter window, but he is quite offensive with just a raw understanding of spaces and when to defend, so Utd will need a stepping defender who can take that position at least till Dorgu develops into his abilities.
By bringing in Estupinan, United will start having that vertical width given how he constantly stretches the pitch, which ends up freeing Bruno/Mainoo to receive the ball in central areas. And his pressing and positioning will also help Amorim to control transitions, which should help Amorim to have his defensive structure more compact.
And with Cunha expected to be rotating inside with him, he brings that overlapping ability, especially when he starts whipping crosses into advanced zones.
Strengths
He is someone who plays with a high-intensity engine with strong overlapping capabilities, and he does fit into that wing-back or full-back role that Amorim wants to play at M16. Moreover, he has been successful whilst playing in a high pressing and progressive. Brighton side, so he can also bring that calmness in the first phase.
Weakness
There are times when he has potential positional lapses when defending deep. And he also has had a sketchy injury record of late, which could end up risking having him being on the same page as Luke Shaw.
