dth

🇨🇮 If I’m Liverpool I’m going to be looking at facilitator wingers in the next few years to accommodate Isak and Ekitike. One of the best and most underrated at doing this right now is Bazoumana Touré at Hoffenheim. The 19-year-old is among just 17 players in Europe’s top five leagues to average 5 dribbles, 0.20xA, 0.20xG per 90 minutes and to have played at least 1500 minutes in the last calendar year. Other players from the 17 include Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Keenan Yildiz, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bukayo Saka, Vini jr, Kylian Mbappe and Yankuba Minteh. This is the company he finds himself in, which is seriously impressive considering he plays for Hoffenheim and not one of the big clubs. Touré’s biggest strength is he’s extremely fast. He clocked a top speed of 36km/h in the Bundesliga this season. He’s also made the most sprints (317). He’s a very high intensity player who works great off the ball as well. Great for a counter pressing team. Touré anticipates passes really well and he closes down space brilliantly because of his speed. Touré is an excellent facilitator. He makes 4.3 crosses into the box per 90 minutes, and these crosses are frequently dangerous. He also averages 3.62 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes with close to 60% accuracy, which is a decent volume and decent accuracy. Especially when adjusted to the frequency of Hoffenheim’s attacks. Dribbling wise he is difficult to stop. He completed 64% of his 5.5 dribbles per 90 minutes. With space in front of him he is deadly using his speed to leave defenders for dead. But he’s more than just speed. He is intelligent. His first touch is always proactive and he’s very good at receiving the ball front footed which immediately gives him an advantage over his opponents. Physically he’s hard to knock off the ball without fouling him. He’s deceptively strong in his duels despite his frame. He is not a volume shooter. Just 1.86 per 90 minutes. He’s also not quite got the accuracy down on his shots. He often rushes and is very left foot dominant which means he is sometimes limited by the angles from which he shoots. This is an area of his game he needs to work on. But overall as a facilitator and as a winger to hold width he’s one of the most underrated options in Europe. Liverpool once signed Firmino from Hoffenheim and I genuinely believe Touré could be the next gem.