Man Utd target is Premier League’s top dog in midfield

Ian Watson

Manchester United appear resigned to losing Ander Herrera and they have reportedly been looking at Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye to replace the Spaniard.

If it is a midfield ball winner they are looking for, it seems United are looking in the right direction. Gueye has attempted more tackles per 90 minutes than any other Premier League midfielder and won more tackles per 90 minutes.

Gueye does not have the best tackle success rate, though. The Premier League midfielder with the highest tackle success rate? Jordan Henderson, of course.

When it comes to interceptions, Gueye is ranked one down from third-placed Herrera; Watford’s Etienne Capoue is top dog when it comes to interceptions.

Another question raised from the stats below: What has Maurizio Sarri done to our favourite midfield dog N’Golo Kante? Last season, the Chelsea star was ranked fourth for interceptions, fifth for tackles won per 90 minutes, and sixth for tackles attempted per 90 minutes. This season, having seemingly been neutered, Kante is 30th, 30th and 33rd respectively.

 

Top 20 Premier League midfielders ranked on tackles won per 90 minutes (minimum of 15 starts)

20) Lucas Torreira (Arsenal) – 1.52 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.56 (18th among PL midfielders)
Tackle success (overall): 59.3% (40th among PL midfielders)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.52 (21st among PL midfielders)

19) James McArthur (Crystal Palace) – 1.54 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.5 (21st)
Tackle success (overall): 61.6% (29th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.13 (40th)

18) Jonathan Hogg (Huddersfield) – 1.55 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.64 (15th)
Tackle success (overall): 58.6% (43rd)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.83 (2nd)

17) Fernandinho (Manchester City) – 1.62 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.17 (28th)
Tackle success (overall): 74.6% (4th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.58 (18th)

16) Joao Moutinho (Wolves) – 1.65 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.52 (4th)
Tackle success (overall): 46.9% (78th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.29 (31st)

15) Harry Arter (Cardiff) – 1.73 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.9 (11th)
Tackle success (overall): 59.7% (36th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 0.98 (46th)

14) Etienne Capoue (Watford) – 1.73 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.67 (14th)
Tackle success (overall): 64.9% (20th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.92 (1st)

13) Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace) – 1.73 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.3 (23rd)
Tackle success (overall): 75% (2nd)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.88 (13th)

12) Ander Herrera (Manchester United) – 1.76 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.52 (5th)
Tackle success (overall): 50% (72nd)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.61 (3rd)

11) Declan Rice (West Ham) – 1.8 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.98 (10th)
Tackle success (overall): 60.2% (34th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.56 (19th)

10) Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) – 1.8 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.55 (19th)
Tackle success (overall): 70.7% (8th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 0.61 (67th)

9) Philip Billing (Huddersfield) – 1.81 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.04 (9th)
Tackle success (overall): 59.5% (38th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.18 (7th)

8) Mario Lemina (Southampton) – 1.83 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.74 (12th)
Tackle success (overall): 66.7% (16th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.37 (5th)

7) Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) – 1.92 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 2.21 (26th)
Tackle success (overall): 86.84% (1st)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.4 (27th)

6) Isaac Hayden (Newcastle) – 1.93 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.42 (6th)
Tackle success (overall): 56.3% (52nd)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.05 (10th)

5) Oriol Romeu (Southampton) – 1.95 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.6 (3rd)
Tackle success (overall): 54.17% (16th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.15 (8th)

4) Mohamed Diame (Newcastle) – 2.01 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.28 (7th)
Tackle success (overall): 61.3% (30th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.14 (38th)

3) Dale Stephens (Brighton) – 2.13 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.05 (8th)
Tackle success (overall): 69.7% (10th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 1.43 (23rd)

2) Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester) – 2.64 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 3.74 (2nd)
Tackle success (overall): 70.5% (9th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.09 (9th)

1) Idrissa Gueye (Everton) – 2.83 tackles won per 90 mins
Tackles per 90 mins: 4.51 (1st)
Tackle success (overall): 62.8% (25th)
Interceptions per 90 mins: 2.39 (4th)