The Premier League has always played host to some of the best young talents in Europe so it does not come as a surprise when clubs from the country are linked with starlets across Europe. Over the years, there have been a number of players who moved to the league to take one step ahead in their career and some failed to reach their potential and meet the expectations from the fans of the league. However, that has not stopped the clubs from scouting for some top class talent and one such player who is now creating waves around the Premier League is French midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.
The 22-year old, who is currently playing for Monaco, made 36 appearances since he joined the French outfit back in 2014 and was an important part of the squad in the previous season.
He has also played for his country in almost every junior level and is not far away from landing a senior cap. However, he is slightly out of favour in France at the moment and is pondering over the next step in his career.
This has seen a number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United linked with him recently. So who is this midfielder and what will he add to the Premier League if he makes the move? Here is a brief SWOT analysis of the exciting 22-year old starlet.
Strengths
A defensive midfielder by trait, Bakayoko has been one of the most consistent players in his position in the domestic circuit in France. He has been a regular option for Monaco to provide cover for their back four and he has rarely let them down even under pressure. Known for his presence of mind and timing of his tackles, the 22-year old is adept at breaking down the opposition attacks in front of the back four and setting his team on the attack.
He is also strong in the air and does not shy away from the physical side of the game. He loves to throw himself about to win the ball and is a player who will give it all. He is someone every manager would want in their team.
Weaknesses
Like most players of his age, Bakayoko is not really the most dependable midfielder for crunch games. He plays in a position that requires concentration levels at their highest but at his age, he is not yet the kind of a player who can keep his temperament for the whole game. He is prone to giving away a lot of free-kicks, sometimes in dangerous areas and needs to curtail his instincts against top class players.
At such a young age, he is also not physically adept the Premier League and its physical challenges. Though he is not too weak, he needs to work on his physical side to become successful in the England.
Opportunities
Having played at every level for the national youth system, the 22-year old is not too far away from earning his first international cap for France. He has been a consistent player for club and country over the last few years and is growing on to become a top class player at AS Monaco.
His services to the French outfit have seen him linked with a move to some of the biggest clubs in the form of Manchester United, AC Milan and Juventus and if he can keep up his good work this season, there is now doubt that one of the big European clubs will come calling next summer.
Threats
As already mentioned, Bakayoko is not the strongest player around and he will not be able to handle the pressure of the midfield in a Premier League game where you can seldom find time on the ball. He is still relatively young and has a huge career ahead of him. He has time on his side and he need not rush into any decisions even at the end of the season.
A move to the Premier League can turn into a dream come true if he is able to adjust to the conditions but if he is not able to compete with others in the country, he will risk pushing his career into a limbo.
It will not be an easy decision for the 22-year old and he will have to think hard and long before deciding on a move.
