The World Cup will wrap up on Sunday and mark the end of what has been some pretty decent and entertaining competition to watch.
I’ve been watching a lot of games with my Chelsea cap on, keeping an eye on potential talents I think Chelsea should take a look at. And perhaps Chelsea are already taking a look at these players. I’m sure they would have scouted every World Cup game.
Watching Morocco vs France in the World Cup semi-final made me reflect on two Moroccan midfielders, Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi.
Both players are already heavily linked with departures from their clubs, Fiorentina’s Amrabat and Angers’ Ounahi, and it’s no surprise that big clubs are snooping around.
Amrabat and Ounahi were unlucky enough to be on the losing side in the France game and are able to hold their heads up, both receiving valid player of the tournament shoutouts. No one can spare either if they were called that.
I’ve seen Amrabat before in a handful of games in Serie A, and I’ve always liked him. But at the World Cup, he really stood out to me and made me take notice. When I’m looking at a game in general as a neutral and a player I haven’t heard of much before catches my eye, that’s when I know they’re having a really good game and it makes me want to see more.
I think Amrabat would be an excellent defensive midfielder option for us in January, before we sign someone else in the summer for depth and competence.
Get the facts on this guy, watch his live performances this season and last season, and let’s make a decision on him. I really think he’s the real deal as a DM, and he would bring exactly what we need and were missing in our engine room: genuine energy, physicality, pace, and 100% effort.
This guy is like N’Golo Kante, but the defensive midfielder version instead of a box-to-box version. He brings all the energy, interceptions and tackling that Kante does, but he is also disciplined to sit as a holding midfielder and has excellent positional awareness and ability to read play and read the pass. He intercepts for fun.
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But apart from all that, technically he is very good with the ball and he always wants the ball. He never hides and is not afraid of high pressure. His passing is excellent and his ball control is also excellent. Another important point that I have noticed is that he is constantly looking to progress the ball when he can, but not to a dangerous level. If there is a pass, he goes for it, otherwise he knows when to keep the ball. He is an intelligent player and I think he would be a very solid option to join Chelsea in January.
As for Ounahi, I never saw him play a match before this World Cup, so I’m not really that qualified to judge him right now. However, I would absolutely encourage Chelsea to take a look at their games and historical data at this point as well. Because based on the World Cup alone, he looks like a true player and would once again bring the other side of what our midfield needs and lacks: creativity, progression, direct play and a real attacking threat from midfield.
Amrabat and Ounahi really complement each other in midfield, their attributes really mesh and provide balance. They have real confidence in each other to play passes in tight areas and trust each other’s ability.
Ounahi is a bit like Mateo Kovacic but with a better final product. He keeps the ball with close control and quick feet, and has the confidence to dribble out of harm’s way.
The only ‘light’ concern is just that, he has a very ‘light’ build. However, she is only 22 years old, so his physique will improve. Plus, he’s certainly not shy about wading in and getting caught in a tackle. However, the Premier League is very physical, so my concern is whether it would be easy to take the ball from him. But if he can get into the gym and develop, it seems like he has all the tools to become a top-notch creative midfielder, something we really lack.
What I love about him is the self-confidence with which he plays, another thing that seems to be lacking in many of our players. He always wants the ball and always wants to move the ball forward, whether it’s running with it or finding a progressive pass. He looks like the real deal, and a quality technical player who can do a little of everything in midfield. However, it’s not just about creativity; he can wrestle, run, push and give 100% intensity throughout the game.
These are the kind of versatile players that Chelsea need to consider to add to our midfield, and not just players who are adept at one or two things, but poor in other areas. Get me some complete midfielders!
