Jordan Ayew could
make his Swans debut against Leicester on Sunday but what exactly attracted
Paul Clement and the club to the former Villa striker? What can he bring to the
squad that wasn’t already available? Is there something special about the Ghanaian
that we haven’t noticed? What is it that forced the club’s hand?
Ayew was born in France but is of Ghanaian descent making
him eligible for the Ghana national side who he has recently represented up to
the Semi Final stage of the Africa Cup of Nations – hence his delayed debut for
the Swans. Starting his career at Marseille, Ayew was transferred to FC Lorient
as he found his first team chances limited at Marseille – this is where he attracted
some major attention.
Aston Villa made a move for Ayew just 12 months after he
signed for Lorient paying £10.2 million for him – they were confident he’d be
exactly what they needed to stay in the Premier League. Sadly, they were wrong
but they deployed him in such a way that any striker would’ve struggled.
Isolated up front, Ayew found it hard to hit the back of the net and Villa went
down.
Now, Ayew has signed for Swansea (for an undisclosed fee and
Neil Taylor going in the opposite direction) and it makes him the second Ayew
to play for us. Andre Ayew has, of course, departed the club in a £20 million
move to West Ham that laced our pockets and shifted on the more tempestuous
Ayew sibling.
Jordan Ayew is without doubt a talented striker. He has good
technique, plenty of pace but he does rely on the ball coming to his feet a lot
of the time. If anything, Ayew
reminds me of former Man Utd striker Javier Hernandez – very underrated, makes
a lot of great runs and is always on hand to pick up a loose ball. Hopefully he
can have a similar impact to the Mexican in the Premier League.
The big question is what he’s going to bring to the squad
quite frankly. We’re starting to find the back of the net more regularly, we
look more resolute at the back so where can Ayew help? There’s nothing more
useful in a team than a player who can change the way the game is being played –
Ayew adds more pace to the front line that has been lacking somewhat with the
reliance on the classy Llorente and absence of Ki.
When a player of Ayew’s quality becomes available; Premier
League clubs can’t ignore it and let him slip away to a rival – Paul Clement
has clearly been aware of Ayew for some time and letting Taylor go after nearly
seven years with Swansea is a big decision.
The most irritating thing about Ayew’s transfer is
definitely the number he has been given. Despite being an out and out striker,
Ayew has been handed the number 3 shirt usually reserved for the left full back
– absolute madness.
I’m expecting big things from Ayew and I think it’s safe to
say the club are too – fingers crossed he can smash one in against Leicester on
his debut.
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