This summer’s transfer window still has over a month to run, but already we have seen a host of exciting newcomers sign for Premier League clubs.
As part of our build up to the 2016/17 campaign, tactics expert Adrian Clarke runs the rule over what some of the new faces will offer in the coming months.
After looking at Leicester City's Ahmed Musa on Saturday, Clarke turns his attention to a marquee signing at Manchester United.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan
Whenever a Jose Mourinho team is at its best, they are always a powerful attacking force. The new Man Utd manager is sometimes regarded as a defensive-minded coach but when on-song, his sides usually sweep forward at speed and with clinical precision. This is why Henrikh Mkhitaryan looks to be the ideal signing this summer.
He is just the type of attacking midfielder that will help United perform in the way that Mourinho wants them to in 2016/17, and his strike in the pre-season friendly defeat to his old club Borussia Dortmund has given an early indication of his potency in front of goal.
The Armenian is a clever footballer who loves to make quick decisions. Comfortable at receiving the ball in tight areas, his assured touch and bright awareness often set him in forward motion before his markers have had time to settle.
When he is included in the starting XI there is likely to be far less ponderous possession football than we saw under Louis van Gaal. He is someone that prefers to make an instant pass, and then follow it with an assertive run.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder is also a smooth traveller with the ball that can pick the right passes at key moments.
In German football he provided incisive, perfectly weighted through balls between defenders as a matter of course. Opponents will need to be especially wary of passes sliced in behind full backs for Anthony Martial to run on to. They could be a deadly double act.
Crucially, Mkhitaryan is also capable of remedying the dearth of goals Manchester United score from midfield.
Mkhitaryan v Man Utd’s attacking players in 2015/16 league
| Player | Goals | Assists | Chances created | Starts |
| Mkhitaryan (Dortmund) | 11 | 15 | 82 | 28 |
| Wayne Rooney | 8 | 6 | 43 | 27 |
| Juan Mata | 6 | 5 | 53 | 34 |
| Anthony Martial | 11 | 4 | 36 | 29 |
| Ander Herrera | 3 | 2 | 21 | 17 |
| Jesse Lingard | 4 | 1 | 14 | 19 |
| Ashley Young | 1 | 2 | 10 | 11 |
Boasting great power in his shooting, with both feet, Mkhitaryan will try his luck from long range with regularity, as well as breaking into the box more often than some of his teammates have done in recent seasons.
Wherever he is deployed in Mourinho’s system, Mkhitaryan will be positive. I expect him to deliver the end product and final third penetration his manager demands.
Mkhitaryan is available for £9.5m in the 2016/17 Fantasy Premier League. To build your team, visit fantasy.premierleague.com.
