'Electric, like Usain Bolt' - what Daniel James will give Manchester United

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After completing the £15-million signing of 21-year-old Swansea winger Daniel James, we look at what sort of player Manchester United are getting.

'I’ve not seen anyone as quick as him in my whole career'

It's tempting to try and be a bit different and start with one of James' less obvious talents, but it would be contrary not to begin with the main reason Manchester United have parted with £15 million: his pace.

James is rapid, lightning, bare fast. However you like to describe pace, James is it.

The most electrifying example to date was the quite extraordinary goal he scored against Brentford in the FA Cup in February when he covered 84 yards in 8.48sec. This was achieved while dribbling, with defenders trying to tackle him. It was like something out of a computer game with a cheat player.

His international manager Ryan Giggs - whom James one day hopes to emulate for club and country - said: "I’ve probably not seen anyone as quick as him in my whole career."

And just in case anyone had missed the significance of what he had just said, Giggs then added: "That’s a big shout, because obviously I’ve played [with] and played against quick players."

To quantify how quick James is, he was clocked last season at 36km/h - the same speed as Kylian Mbappe and quicker than Theo Walcott's personal best. For what it's worth, ArjenRobben's holds the record for a footballer with 37km/h, while Usain Bolt - in his own mind a footballer - has touched speeds of 44.7 km/h.

And the Bolt comparison may not actually be as far-fetched as it seems. Ahead of facing Wales on Tuesday, the Hungary manager Marco Rossi said: "James's speed reminds of Usain Bolt - to be so fast like him is really incredible. In the last 10 years I don't remember one player that gave me this sensation. His acceleration is so peculiar, which is why Manchester United have bought him."

'It’s just off-your-seat stuff, like "wow"'

Plenty of wingers are blessed with searing pace, but there is a reason that the likes of Wayne Routledge, Nathan Dyer and Dennis Rommedahl have never been signed by the biggest clubs.

To attract United's attention, James has consistently shown himself to have something extra. The ability to play the right pass after beating his man, the composure to shoot after sprinting across the pitch like a gazelle.

After his performance against Brentford where he scored that memorable goal, his Swansea manager acted as though suddenly possessed by a young child watching his first game of football. "There were a few instances, not just the goal and it’s just off-your-seat stuff, like 'wow,'" he said, unable to stop smiling.

Stylistically, James resembles a peak Marc Overmars. The ability to collect the ball on the left, dart infield past - and often between - defenders and crack a shot away. James only scored five times for Swansea last season so undoubtedly needs to improve his finishing, but his ability to get efforts on goal bodes well - especially under the tutelage of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. On average, James produced 3.12 shots per 90 minutes last season, which put him in the top 20 for Championship players.

'Lots of skills and vision'

As well as being direct enough to regularly get shots away, James also possesses a drop of shoulder to lose defenders if they try and get too close. Once he has done that then they have no chance of catching him, often being forced to foul him instead.

The penalty James won against Middlesbrough in April is a case-in-point. He receives the ball out wide on the left, isolates Ryan Shotton, and sucks him in before flicking the ball towards goal. The moment he does that, Shotton is toast. All he can do in the end is shove James over and concede a penalty.

James's vision has also improved, and his ability to play with his head up despite essentially operating on fast-forward is striking. There are numerous examples of this throughout the season, including one for Wales against Slovakia in March when he beat his man with customary ease before teeing up Harry Wilson for a chance he really should have buried.

He has also improved his crossing off both feet, which is a major asset against defenders who tend to show him outside - especially when he is playing on the left.

In total, James registered eight assists last season, at a rate of 0.25 per 90 minutes, which was the 18th best ratio in the Championship. When his moved to United was confirmed, Solskjaer described James as "an exciting young winger with lots of skills and vision."

'Exceptional work ethic'

Underpinning James's rich talent is an "exceptional work ethic" (Solskjaer again). As much as he loves gliding past full-backs, James is also happy to work hard off the ball.

Two of his best goals last season actually came from nicking the ball back. There was the long-range goal for Wales against Slovakia which came from his dispossessing a defender, and the wonder goal against Brentford actually started with him making a block on an attempted through ball deep in his own half.

Against Manchester City in the FA Cup when Swansea were set up in a low defensive block for most of the match, James made some crucial defensive contributions. In the first half he hared back into his own area to deny Kyle Walker as he went to shoot, and then stood up to the jinking feet of Riyad Mahrez before pinching the ball away and starting a counter-attack.

Solskjaer will demand James is similarly industrious at Old Trafford, and you would imagine his work-rate will go down well with a fanbase still reeling from that video of Anthony Martial strolling around during the warm-up.

'Electric'

If the goal against Brentford first made United's scouts sit up and take notice, it was the masterful performance against Stoke in April that convinced the club to make the signing.

That was the view of Wales team-mate Joe Allen anyway, who was unfortunate enough to be on the opposition side to James that evening. "It was one of the best individual performances I have ever seen," Allen said. "He was electric. He scored and got two men sent off and caused carnage all game. That was the day that probably sealed the potential Man United move."

The goal was another thing of beauty - cutting in from the left and curling a shot into the far corner. The two red cards he drew meanwhile continued a theme from throughout the season where defenders resorted to hacking him down.

In total, James was fouled on average the second most times in the Championship last season, at a rate of 3.23 times per 90 minutes - even higher than the Premier League's most fouled player Eden Hazard. The numbers give an indication of how difficult James is to stop once he gets going.

'United is perfect place for me to develop'

Upon completing his move to Old Trafford, James made all the right noises at his unveiling. "The Premier League is the best league in the world and Manchester United is the perfect place for me to continue to develop as a player," he said.

Whether United is the best place for his development will largely depend on Solskjaer's willingness to make room for him in the first team. In theory, James should slot in pretty seamlessly given United's general preference for a pacy front three with wingers who can make the pitch big and stretch opposition defences.

James will have to improve his numbers for goals and assists, but with his pace, work-rate and desire to improve, United have signed a rough diamond that could be precisely the sort of character they're looking for.