Edu can unearth Tchouameni 2.0 in Arsenal bid for 20 y/o who’s “one to keep an eye on” – opinion
Arsenal have been handed a lift of their bid to deliver Ibrahima Bamba to The Emirates within the January switch window.
What’s the discuss?
That’s based on a report by Italian media outlet Tutto Salernitana, who declare that, following quite a few reviews linking the Gunners with a transfer for the Italian defensive midfielder this winter, Vitória Guimarães SC could be prepared to half with the 20-year-old for a determine within the area of €6m (£5.2m) – regardless of earlier claims the teenager is valued at round £26.5m.
Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta’s facet aren’t the one membership believed to be monitoring the midfielder, with Atalanta BC, Villarreal CF, US Salernitana and Paris Saint-Germain additionally reported to be eager, whereas Vitória aren’t considered in opposition to parting with Bamba in January – so long as they have been to obtain a passable supply for the expertise.
The subsequent Tchouaméni
Contemplating the sheer quantity of skill and potential for future improvement Bamba fairly clearly possesses, it isn’t obscure why Edu could be focused on a deal to deliver the 20-year-old to The Emirates this winter.
Certainly, over his 12 Liga Portugal appearances to date this season, the £3m-rated expertise has been in sensational defensive type, making a median of two.7 tackles – the joint 14th-most within the league – 1.2 interceptions, 4.3 clearances and successful an astonishing 4.8 duels – at a hit price of 62% – per recreation.
Nevertheless, it isn’t solely in a defensive capability by which the £2.5k-per-week teenager impresses, as he’s additionally adept at launching assaults for his facet, taking part in a median of two.9 lengthy balls, 1.5 chipped passes and finishing 29.8 complete passes – at a hit price of 85% – per recreation.
These returns see the participant who journalist Zach Lowy dubbed “one to keep an eye on” and “intriguing” common an especially spectacular SofaScore match ranking of 7.01, presently rating him as Vitória’s fourth-best performer within the high flight of Portuguese soccer – taking part in a key function in his facet getting off to a incredible begin to their 2022/23 marketing campaign.
As such, with Bamba being a participant who is great in his studying of the sport, extraordinarily sturdy within the deal with and greater than able to launching counter-attacks for his facet, there are fairly clear comparisons between the 20-year-old and Aurélien Tchouaméni – the 22-year-old who joined Actual Madrid in a €100m (£85.3m) deal this summer season.
Certainly, the France worldwide additionally excels in his anticipation, tackling and ball-playing, with the £126k-per-week defensive midfielder making a median of 1.8 interceptions, 2.3 tackles and taking part in 1.3 lengthy balls per recreation over his 12 LaLiga fixtures this season.
As such, ought to Edu handle to get a deal over the road for Bamba in January, not solely would the sporting director be touchdown Arsenal an extremely promising younger expertise, however he might even have unearthed the subsequent Tchouaméni at The Emirates – one thing that’s positive to be an especially thrilling prospect for each supporters and Arteta alike.