Kyriakos Papadopoulos, once touted among the best young defenders in Europe, could never really fulfil his promise due to a series of injuries standing in his way over the years. Still only 24, age is still on his side and he could make justice to the immense promise he showed from a very young age. If reports from The Stoke Sentinel are to be believed, the Greek international is wanted by Stoke City.
The Potters shocked the world with some impressive signings like Shaqiri, Bojan, Afellay in recent times and the latest big addition to the Potters was Joe Allen from Liverpool. If the Potters can bring Papadopoulos to the Bet 365 Stadium, it will another massive statement from Mark Hughes.
In this article, we will make a brief analysis of the Greek man mountain’s game and what he can offer to Stoke City.
Strengths
Papadopoulos’ game is all about his strong determination that makes him stand out from the rest. The 24-year-old is blessed with such a commitment which is unimaginable from most footballers. With the Greek international in the back line, you can be assured that he will do everything in his powers to keep away opponents from scoring. The Leverkusen star excels in the air which is quite surprising for a player who is just 6′. An average of 4 aerial duels won every game speaks volumes about his dominance in the air. Papadopoulos does have good concentration levels and ability to intercept dangers and is well capable of plying his trade as a defensive midfielder. So, he is pretty much a complete package and can be an asset to the Potters for a very long time.
Weaknesses
The biggest weakness of the Greek international is his terrible fortune with injuries. His career could have had a whole different path if not for his poor luck. Another concern that the 24-year-old comes with is his lack of discipline. Any manager loves players who give their hearts out for the team and Papadopoulos is exactly that kind of a player but he has his baggage i.e. a tendency of getting his name on the book. However, that can be worked on.
Opportunities
Papadopoulos was a highly rated defender when he was 20 or 21 and even now he is just a highly-rated footballer. His fortunes could change with him moving to a whole new league. The Greek international can play a key role for the Potters for plenty of years to follow considering his age and the fact that his peak years are ahead of him.
Threats
The Premier League is more physical when compared to Bundesliga. Papadopoulos, being an injury-prone player, will find it hard to adapt to the pace and tenacity needed to succeed in the Premier League. Moving to the Premier League could prove to be a costly decision from the 24-year-old. However, you cannot simply say no when cash-rich Premier League clubs come for your signature.
