Stoke City have seemingly pulled off the bargain of the summer having signed the Egyptian wonder-kid Ramadan Sobhi from Al Ahly. He has been signed for a fee which could rise up to £5m. While such money for a 19-year old coming from the Egyptian league might seem to be substantial, Stoke City have taken a risk, which if it pays off has the potential to reap rich dividends.
The Potters will be looking to replicate Leicester’s success when they signed Mahrez for a nominal fee of £400,000 and the results are there for all to see. A story such as Mahrez is seldom seen panning out in quick succession in an era where mostly money ensures you quality and top clubs with their financial clout go all out to achieve their top targets since the fear of failure is too strong to let them experiment with such signings. But the reputation Sobhi has been building in his native country makes one wonder whether Stoke have played a master stroke.
WHAT HE WILL OFFER?
Sobhi is capable of playing across the front four with aplomb and what is even more remarkable for this winger is his ability to perform under pressure. And it’s not a responsibility which has been thrust upon him, with the youngster showing confidence far beyond his age. He wants the ball and is willing to make important decisions with it. He has the most touches for a winger in the league with 57 and has also received the ball maximum number of times in the final third.
He leads the charts for successful dribbles with 88 to his name and has been involved in 15% of the team’s goal at the young age of 19. He is an accomplished dribbler with 24 completed dribbles in the penalty area which is astounding for a player of his age. He rarely gets dispossessed and has another important quality which sets him apart from usual fleet-footed wingers is his final pass. His 82% pass completion rate is the 2nd highest amongst wingers. His work rate is top notch with Sobhi having the highest number of tackles and successful tackles at 53 and 33 respectively amongst wingers.
The best part is his alarming improvement rate. With enhanced statistics in each passing month, Sobhi is destined for greater things, as his compatriots and countrymen believe.
Stoke are understandably delighted to secure the young sensation’s signature and according to the Tony Scholes the player was eager to ply his trade in the Premier League and Stoke are willing to offer him exactly that.
While the step-up will be huge we hope the player is given time and realises his full potential under the tutelage of Mark Hughes and we are able to witness another success story which exemplifies the notion that taking risks pays off.
