View: Long-term reported West Brom target could be ideal man to replace Diangana next season
West Brom could do a lot worse than making a move for promising QPR winger Bright Osayi-Samuel this summer.
According to the Birmingham Mail, the Baggies hold a longstanding interest in the wide man, and it’s very much been a case of Bright by name, bright by nature this season.
The 22-year-old six goals and eight assists to his name this term, but his impressive record doesn’t stop there.
As per Wyscout, the Nigerian has registered a pass completion rate that is 0.9% better than Grady Diangana’s in 2019/20, as well as averaging 1.8% more successful dribbles too.
Osayi-Samuel also completes a mammoth 26% more long passes than Diangana.
And on his day, he can be absolutely lethal.
The image above was taken just before he scored his most recent goal, against Stoke City in February.
A long ball is played into the space behind the defence, and Osayi-Samuel is onto it like a whippet, showing fantastic pace to leave the back four scrambling to deal with him.
Like all good wingers, his first thought is to get to the byline, but when he gets there he really steps things up a notch.
Displaying admirable composure, he waits for the struggling defender to commit himself by diving in, and then sells him a perfect dummy.
Osayi-Samuel still has a lot to do at this stage though.
Cutting inside, he surveys his surroundings before deciding to take on a shot from a very tight angle.
Ordinarily, you might criticise the keeper for being beaten from such a position, but the power and placement on the shot is so good that he can do nothing about it.
And that goal was, in many ways, a perfect illustration of what Osayi-Samuel is all about.
With 3.91 progressive runs ands 4.72 touches in the opposition box per game – both marked increases on Diangana’s averages – he is a constant source of creativity and positivity in the final third.
Factor in his electric pace and some genuine end product, and it’s not exaggerative to suggest that he could be the man to replace Diangana if and when he returns to West Ham this summer.
In other West Brom news, Kamil Grosicki shares footage of first goal for WBA in 2-2 v Aston Villa
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