By Yash Gondegaonkar
PSV Eindhoven has an excellent record of developing youngsters into superstars. Some of the players that PSV has sold over the last two decades alone include Ronaldo Nazario, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben, and Memphis Depay, among others. The current crop of players under Ruud Van Nistelrooy has many potential superstars: Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke, and Ibrahim Sangare. All the above players formed the spine of the team that won the KNVB Cup in 2022 under Roger Schmidt. In this article, we are going to talk about Ibrahim Sangare.
Sangare started his professional career at the Ivorian club AS Denguele. He signed for Toulouse in 2016. He played with their reserve team and had his breakthrough in the 2017/18 season. Issa Diop and Alban Lafont were on Toulouse's talented team. However, they had a difficult season and just avoided being relegated. Everyone was impressed by Sangare's performances. He stood out in an underperforming team which was very low on confidence. He moved to PSV Eindhoven in 2020 after Toulouse was relegated to Ligue 2. Under Roger Schmidt, he has developed his game further and was a target for European giants like Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United as he had a relatively low release clause in his contract. He signed a new deal in August 2022, extending his contract to 2027.
The 24-year-old has a towering imposing figure. The youngster is a defensive machine, averaging the most tackles and interceptions in the Eredivise. He forms a great partnership with Eric Gutierrez, who is responsible for progressing the ball to the final third. But just being a defensive shield is just one side of his game. He is athletic, and despite his big frame, he is very comfortable with the ball at his feet. It is difficult to knock him off the ball. His ball-carrying ability is a real asset as it takes the pressure off the backline. He drops between the centre backs and carries the ball in the middle third.
Progressive Passing statistics of Sangare at Toulouse show that he is in the top 2-3 % of midfielders for progressive passes and even passes into the final third. When you add his progressive carrying into this, coupled with his excellent work rate and defensive numbers, you have a complete midfielder who can play several roles in the midfield like a Swiss Army Knife.
Talking more about his progressive carrying ability, of the 69 players to attempt 50 or more dribbles in the Eredivisie this term, Sangare returned the eighth best success rate (68.1%), and he breaks the opposition midfield ranks without so much as a breaking a sweat. As a result, new attacking third angles become available for teammates to take advantage of.
Ibrahim Sangare was the only player in the Eredivisie to make more than 1.5 tackles, 1.5 dribbles, 1.5 interceptions, and 50 passes in every match. According to Soccerment, Sangare’s three goals came from an xG of 1.52, meaning he can be clinical when going forward. He had an xOVA of 1.35 and an xT (Expected Threat) of 2.12, which included 1.61 from passes.
Sangare is not without his flaws. Though his passing abilities have increased appreciably, he still struggles at completing elite game-breaking passes. His positioning in the build-up can be flawed, which can be corrected by better coaching. He can sometimes get into trouble by overextending during his dribbling forays and losing possession in the middle third.
Despite the above discrepancies in his game, he will be an excellent addition to any club looking for an imposing presence in the midfield. He is versatile and can play a variety of roles. Since joining PSV, he has improved significantly. It would be very intriguing to see which club would take a punt on him. Whichever club he joins, it’s an assurance that he will become a mainstay in the midfield at that club.
Lionel Messi’s agent refutes claims of Inter Miami stake purchase and a potential move
LAFC 2 – 1 Seattle Sounders – Bale and Chiellini Win on Home Debut for the Black and Gold
Summer 2022: A summer of the overhaul for Tottenham that should send fans, and opposition frenetic
How Man City could line up Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips with their current squad
An active transfer window to fire Sparta Rotterdam up on the Eredivisie table
Barcelona have made a significant stride forward with the signing of Jules Kounde
Chelsea Eyeing Villareal defender Pau Torres for a £50m Move: Good choice for Tuchel?
From Haaland’s double score to Ten Hag’s debut defeat- Here’s all from the first week of Premier League
Alex Telles ‘didn’t think twice’ before leaving Man United and joining Sevilla FC
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid join race for RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko
Nottingham Forest’s promotion, Arsenal’s win, Aston Villa’s defeat- all from the first week of Premier League
Sevilla fc winger Oussama Idrissi returns to dutch league for another season
Manchester City, Arsenal, and Aston Villa win big in the second week of the Premier League
From Fulham’s win to Tuchel and Conte’s public feud- all the drama from the second week of Premier League 2022
Grand Prix Badminton League 2022: Sharks & Bulls score thrilling wins, face-off with Wolves & Falcons confirmed
How is SL Benfica Academy so successful at producing and developing young talent
Why Brandon Vázquez should be in the USMNT squad for the World Cup in Qatar this winter
Sebastian Driussi, the striker who lifted Austin FC to unthinkable heights
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City- big names that disappointed in the third week of the Premier League
Spurs, Crystal Palace, and Fulham win big in the third week of the Premier League
Real Salt Lake breaking new ground with their purchase of 18-year-old USYNT playmaker Diego Luna
LAFC midfielder José Cifuentes: Transfer target for Premier League's Brighton
Haaland scores a hat-trick; Liverpool thrash Bournemouth 9-0: All from the fourth week of Premier League
Punk-Moxley set for a rematch to claim AEW World Championship: AEW Dynamite Recap
Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa fail to impress in the fourth week of the Premier League
Anthony Gordon: Merseyside’s latest boy wonder on the verge of a breakthrough
City Win Big, Liverpool Squeak Through And Arsenal Win Again In Match Week Five Of The Premier League
Jesus Ferreira-Alan Velasco-Paul Arriola: Best attacking trio in the MLS?
DP Asia Cup 2022 Review- Pakistan vs Hong Kong: Pak wins big against Hong Kong
Manchester United, Chelsea, and Brentford win in the sixth week of the Premier League
Arsenal, Fulham, Leicester, and Southampton fail to impress in the sixth week of the Premier League
Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest US Open Champion after defeating Casper Ruud in the finale
Denis Bouanga: Will LAFC’s latest acquisition solidify the MLS Cup title for the team?
Aaron Hickey: The Golden Boy Nominee Ready To Light Up The Premier League
Brennan Johnson: The next superstar striker with the potential to play for big clubs
EPL Review: Haaland at it again, A sigh of relief for Gerrard, and Chaos at the City Ground
Comments