17 games, 17 wins. PSV Eindhoven have been perfect in the Eredivisie this season and Johan Bakayoko has been one of their best players. The 20-year-old’s assists per minute ratio is higher than any other player’s in the Dutch top flight, making Bakayoko the supply line behind PSV’s division-best attack.
By Graham Ruthven
Even looking beyond the Eredivisie, Bakayoko stands out. With four goals and 13 assists (all competitions) to his name, he is behind only Jude Bellingham and Florian Wirtz in the list of players age 21 and under for combined goals and assists in Europe’s biggest domestic leagues this season.
PSV have a history when it comes to producing exciting attacking talent. Indeed, Cody Gakpo, Noni Madueke and Xavi Simons have all used the Eindhoven club as a springboard in recent years and Bakayoko is seemingly next off the conveyer belt. Links with bigger, richer clubs are already being made.
Manchester United are reportedly among those monitoring Bakayoko. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’s recent arrival at Old Trafford means a squad overhaul is expected in the near future and Bakayoko could be part of United’s plan to rebuild the right side of their team. The Belgian has apparently been valued at €40m.
Of course, it’s only 18 months ago that Manchester United spent €100m on a right winger from the Eredivisie. Antony was signed to be a difference-maker, but has been widely written off as an expensive flop instead. The Brazilian has failed to register a single goal or assist in 21 appearances (1,232 minutes) this season. United need better.
Bakayoko is the player the Old Trafford club believed Antony would be. He too is a left footer. Erik ten Hag wants his wide man on the right to be able to cut inside and Bakayoko is certainly capable of this and uses his dribbling skill to beat opponents and create opportunities in the attacking third.
The numbers speak for themselves. Bakayoko is ranked in the top 1% for touches in the final third per 90 minutes and progressive carries among players in his position this season. He also ranks highly for successful take-ons and passes and crosses into the opposition penalty area. Antony’s numbers aren’t up to the same level.
It’s not just that Bakayoko dribbles and carries the ball more effectively than Antony – his speed also gives him another dimension over the Brazilian. While opposition defenders can be confident Antony will want to play in front of them, Bakayoko has the pace to get in behind and stretch the pitch.
Antony’s underwhelming performances are having a knock-on effect at Manchester United. Rasmus Højlund, in particular, has suffered for a lack of service coming from the right winger who is frequently more interested in shooting himself from low percentage areas than setting up a teammate with a cross or ball through.
Luuk de Jong, on the other hand, is thriving as PSV’s centre forward with Bakayoko as his supplier. The pair have combined for two Eredivisie goals this season and have combined for many more ‘big chances’ which could have led to PSV scoring even more than the 59 goals in 17 games they have registered.
United might feel they can get more out of Antony with the addition of a new right back. Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have both struggled to create chemistry with the Brazilian, leading to suggestions that ten Hag could push for a more attack-minded right back like Jeremie Frimpong to fill the space Antony vacates by cutting inside.
Bakayoko, however, has succeeded while playing alongside a conservative right back. Jordan Teze is known to push high up the pitch, but is more likely to come into a central area than make an overlapping run. This hasn’t affected Bakayoko who uses Teze to combine with and bounce passes off around the edge of the box.
Most accept Manchester United’s €100m signing of Antony was a mistake. Even within Old Trafford, there is surely recognition of the mistake. The signing of Bakayoko, however, could help point United in the right direction again. They were right to sign a right winger from the Eredivisie. They just signed the wrong one.
(Images from IMAGO)
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