One to Watch for Stoke City: Ramadan Sobhi
Despite boasting a forward line that includes Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic and Saido Berahino, Stoke City fans were crying out for excitement last season
There was a sense that the Mark Hughes project had gone stale as they limped to an underwhelming 13th place in the Premier League with their lowest-ever points tally since earning promotion nine years ago – and the manager is now under pressure to reinvent the way Stoke attack.
But in a summer where money is being spent like it’s going out of fashion, Hughes can rest safe in the knowledge that the answer is sitting directly behind him on the substitutes bench.
Ramadan Sobhi arrived in Stoke-on-Trent amid much intrigue, with whispers of his sky-high potential rapidly spreading across the city soon after he put pen to paper.
The Egypt international has barely had any time to get to grips with the Premier League but, from what he has shown so far, it is clear the Potters have a star on their hands.
And next season could be when he shows it.
Direct and powerful
For a 20-year-old, Sobhi has certainly packed a lot into his short career. At former club Al-Ahly he once played in front of 100,000 fans, got an opponent sent off by showboating and earned the nickname ‘Ramadona’.
Hughes was intrigued. And Al-Ahly manager Martin Jol admitted it was inevitable a Premier League club would grab his young star – who he once recommended to Jose Mourinho – even if the fee was just £5m.
You can instantly see why. In 17 Premier League appearances, which includes eight starts, Sobhi did enough to show everyone what the fuss was about.
Quick, tall and powerful he is perfect for the modern game. A right-footer comfortable on either flank, he is full of tricks, has an eye for the spectacular and is persistent in his pursuit of success.
Hughes gradually introduced him to English football in his debut season and Sobhi is already in love with it. He is perfectly suited to the physically-imposing Premier League and could thrive, if given the chance.
Just ask Swansea and Middlesbrough, two of the sides he tied in knots down the left wing.
Admittedly there is work to do: goals don’t appear to come naturally and his execution can be questionable in the final third but the unpredictability he brings can only help Stoke’s attack.
‘I want to play’
Stoke chairman Peter Coates has vowed to back Hughes in the transfer window, although so far they have only snapped up Darren Fletcher on a free transfer from West Brom.
Having cash available was the news fans wanted after watching a largely drab campaign peter out. But supporters have plenty of reasons to be optimistic next season.
Despite underwhelming campaigns, Shaqiri, Berahino and Arnautovic possess plenty of quality. And Sobhi can compliment them perfectly.
The man from Cairo was patient in his first season and accepted the fact he had to bide his time before being unleashed, but now he wants to play.
“I did get some chances and I just tried to do my best. If the chance comes again, I will perform better and better,” he said.
“Right now, I’m not playing, but I respect the manager’s point of view
“All I can do is work hard, train hard and concentrate.”
Last season was a wake-up call for Stoke.
But, in Sobhi, they have a winger capable of sounding the alarm in every Premier League defence as they plot their route back to the top half.
