Ibrox View: Pre-contract swoop for Bassey could be great piece of business for Rangers
Rangers continued their promising start to the summer transfer window with a move for Leicester City full-back Calvin Bassey on Saturday.
The 20-year-old left-back has signed a pre-contract agreement with the Gers, following on from the permanent swoop for Ianis Hagi last month, and he looks like another young talent to get excited about.
The youngster has yet to make his senior debut for the Foxes, but has been a mainstay for their U23s for some time now.
So what kind of player will we be getting next term?
A quick look at the stats is certainly cause for optimism.
Compared to Jon Flanagan, who will leave Ibrox this season, Bassey has an average cross completion rate that is 4.7% higher, as well as making 12.3% more successful dribbles, and registering 1.03 interceptions more too, as per Wyscout.
And in a game scenario, that makes for a player who is not afraid to push on and show a bit of attacking flair.
The example above is fine illustration of this.
Look at how high and wide Bassey is when he receives the ball here.
Essentially, he is acting as a second winger, and giving the opposition all sorts of issues as a result.
What’s pleasing to see is that Bassey’s first instinct is to shift that ball onto his favoured left boot and get to the byline.
The youngster is constantly looking to stretch the opposition defence, and create space for himself to turn provider for his teammates.
When the ball does come in it could hardly be better either – looping high into the centre of the goal for an attacker to meet.
The goalkeeper is left stranded by the awkwardness of the distance from him, and ultimately has to stay at home.
On another day, the striker would bury such a fine ball with aplomb, but in this instance his header his weak and straight at the thankful stopper.
Bassey is a confident and willing dribbler too.
In the example above he picks up the ball deep in his half, and instantly looks to get his head down.
Not only does he carry it a long way, but when he does come under pressure, he is completely calm and collected.
The full-back sells his marker a superb dummy, leaving him sprawling on the turf, and opening up the whole of the attacking third for himself with ease.
Obviously, he is still only 20 and has a fair amount to learn, but he looks every inch the exciting prospect.
This could be a wonderful coup from Rangers.
In other Rangers news, Ibrox Exclusive: Bruce claims Hladky would have to settle for deputy role at Rangers.