How do you substitute the Premier League’s final playmaker? It’s a rhetorical query, however one which Pep Guardiola and Manchester Metropolis must deal with this summer time with Kevin De Bruyne leaving the membership.
De Bruyne’s unrivalled minutes per-assist ratio in Premier League historical past is outstanding.
But, his output has noticeably declined over the previous two seasons, with three targets and 7 assists this marketing campaign – his second-worst for Man Metropolis, surpassed solely by the 2018/19 season when he missed a lot of the marketing campaign, not beginning a Premier League match till Boxing Day.
This seemingly influenced the senior administration’s choice to plan past him. Nevertheless, changing one of many Premier League’s all-time greats stays an infinite problem.
Can Foden step up in De Bruyne’s absence?
Wanting again ultimately season would possibly reveal a possible successor to imagine the Belgium worldwide’s attacking duties.
Evaluating De Bruyne’s heatmap from his standout 2019/20 Premier League season, which noticed him rating 13 targets and supply 20 assists, to Phil Foden’s throughout his PFA Participant of the Season final yr reveals placing similarities of their positioning, with each favouring the correct wing.
Nevertheless, Foden leans extra in the direction of goalscoring, by no means exceeding eight assists in a Premier League season.
Furthermore, their help kinds differ considerably: Foden excels at brief, sharp passes, whereas De Bruyne is well known for his pinpoint crosses that usually unlock defences from wider areas.
Is Marmoush the reply?
January signing Omar Marmoush may additionally step up, having delivered 9 assists within the Bundesliga for Eintracht Frankfurt this season.
Even with out the injured Erling Haaland, he has primarily operated off the left flank for Man Metropolis.
There’s hypothesis round summer time strikes for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, who each favour the left, which means that the versatile Marmoush is perhaps poised to adapt and take over De Bruyne’s position.
Will Metropolis signal a De Bruyne alternative?
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Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry check out a few of Kevin De Bruyne’s assists and heap reward on the midfielder
In response to Fbref’s scouting function, gamers most just like De Bruyne, primarily based on numerous metrics, embody Paulo Dybala, Heung-Min Son, and Cole Palmer.
Wirtz and Foden rank seventh and ninth, respectively, with Barcelona’s Raphinha and Actual Betis’ Isco additionally within the high 10.
Whichever route Metropolis select to go in, the season’s conclusion guarantees to be fascinating, as quite a few gamers audition for certainly one of soccer’s most scrutinised roles.
