Patrice Evra and why he should not be allowed to leave by Manchester United

Patrice Evra could be leaving Manchester United this summer with his contract reportedly expiring and David Moyes wanting a summer clear out of with a number of players set to follow Nemanja Vidic out of the exit door at Old Trafford.

Cash rich Paris St. Germain and Monaco are apparently interested in bringing the France international back to his homeland, but would Moyes be better of keeping Evra around by giving him a contract extension?

It has been no secret that a new left back is desired as part of a rebuild at United. Leighton Baines, Luke Shaw, Fabio Coentrao and Filipe Luis have all been linked with a move to Old Trafford since the summer.

Performance Scores

In terms of Squawka Performance Score Evra compares favourable against this quartet scoring 481. Only Baines has higher with 507, next is Atletico Madrid defender Luis with 328 and Shaw is on 264 with Coentrao only making five La Liga appearances, meaning it is difficult to make a fair and accurate comparison.

Defensive comparison

Defensively only Luis is better than Evra. The France full back has won 46 tackles and around 51% of aerial duels, but Luis has 64 tackles won and 62.5% of aerial duels. Baines for example has only won 42% of aerial duels and Shaw has come out on top in 36 tackles.

None of these players are far enough apart from each other to say that one is by far and away better, but Evra can claim to be at least on a par with them.

Interestingly Evra still shows an excellent ability to read the game and has made an astonishing 40 interceptions this season in the Premier League, around double what any of his potential replacements have made.

Evra PL Defensive Actions

With an 83% pass completion only Baines is better – with 87% success – but Evra has made more key passes and more assists than any of the left backs United have been linked with: 33 key passes overall with three setting up a goal for United. Baines, surprisingly, does not even have one assist.

In European competition though Evra has faltered. In five Champions League group matches he has won just 42% of tackles and 40% of aerial duels.

Evra CL Duels

Evra has been in good form this season, better than that of some of his potential replacements, and not too far behind some others. However he will be 33 at the start of next season so time is not on his side and he will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.

If a younger, less experienced player is signed at left back, or a player from abroad with no experience of the Premier League, it may be prudent for Moyes to keep Evra around for at least one more season, just to help the transition of the new arrival and step in should they not settle or step up straight away.

Evra can still have a part to play for United for a couple of seasons yet, although perhaps not as first choice left back.