Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of a Manchester United Move for Matt Ritchie

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has insisted that Scotland international midfielder Matt Ritchie will not be sold to Manchester United.

He said, per the Mirror: 

"

Matty is a good player so it’s not a surprise to me he is being linked with the top clubs. When Matty is on form and playing well he is a threat to everybody.

It’s not welcome by us. We are not a selling club and we want to add to the squad. We are not looking to sell anybody.

It’s a compliment to the players whenever you get interest in them. It means they are playing well and we are performing at a high level. But the decision will be very much with us whether we decide to sell or not.

"

Howe's reluctance to consider letting Ritchie go is a sign of what a key player the right-sided midfielder has been for the Cherries.

Last season, Ritchie scored 15 times and provided 17 assists as Bournemouth ascended to the top flight from a tough Championship. That output is the key pro in favour of signing him for United.

Of those assists, nine came from crosses in open play and five from corners. The latter of those statistics could be particularly significant to the Red Devils. Since the 2009/10 league season, the most assists from corners any United player has managed in a season was Robin van Persie's three in 2012/13.

No United player registered an assist from a corner in the Premier League last season, and no one has yet done so this season.

Watching David Beckham in action at Old Trafford during the UNICEF Match for Children on Saturday was a reminder of just how much the Red Devils miss quality deliveries into the box from set pieces and open play, and Ritchie has proved he can provide both.

Of course, chief among the cons is the fact Ritchie has been unable to translate anything like his rate of goals or assists to the Premier League.

The step up in quality is significant, and Bournemouth's attacking unit has been beset by unfortunate injuries. Ritchie himself has not looked overawed, although he has not been able to be as effective.

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As Scotland fans know thanks to his goal against Poland in October, and as Bournemouth fans know thanks to his six goals from outside the area last season, Ritchie has a fine shot on him, and he is not afraid to use it.

He attempted an average of 2.4 shots per 90 minutes from outside of the area in the league last season and is averaging 1.8 shots from range per 90 this season. Only Memphis Depay in the United side has attempted more than that this season.

Given United are facing so many deep-lying defences Ritchie's delivery from wide areas and ability to shoot from range would be useful assets. Also helpful would be his dribbling ability and pace over a short distance.

He is not an out-and-out speed merchant but does have a good change of pace and ability to make bursting runs. In terms of dribbling, he is no Anthony Martial, but his numbers are decent. He averaged 1.5 attempts to dribble past a player per 90 minutes in the league last season, succeeding with around half of them.

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This is an area where he has really struggled with the step up to the Premier League, though. He is still averaging a dribble every 90 minutes of league action, but an average of just 0.2 of them have been successful thus far.

Ritchie was the proven article in the Championship—this is the key pro. The gamble for United would be whether elevating the level of his team-mates would mean he could be as productive at a higher level—and the chance that would not be the case is the key con.

Van Gaal's track record with surprise signings has been pretty positive so far, though. If he and his team do believe in Ritchie, it would probably be a gamble worth taking.

All statistics per WhoScored.com.