Sport
WHY ANDRE AYEW COULD BE THE SIGNING OF THE SUMMER
WHY ANDRE AYEW COULD BE THE SIGNING OF THE SUMMER
£49 million for Raheem Sterling. £29 million for Roberto Firmino. £25 million for Memphis Depay. All big prices for big-time players. Meanwhile, Swansea City’s greatest bit of business this summer was Andre Ayew, who joined on a free transfer from Marseille. Despite these high price tags, Ayew could in fact turn out to be the signing of the summer.
Three weeks into the season and Sterling has sparkled, Firmino has strived to improve and Depay has struggled. Ayew, meanwhile, has stunned. While the Frenchman may not possess the same natural talent as Sterling, Firmino and Depay, he has charisma and a personality that ticks all the right boxes to suggest that Ayew will be a Premier League success.
Yes, Ayew is the highest-paid player at Swansea City. In fact, reports suggest that he will earn around £50,000 a week throughout his four-year deal at the Liberty Stadium. Furthermore, the Welsh outfit paid a mammoth signing on fee in order to secure his services this summer. Garry Monk has followed Ayew for quite some time and the Frenchman has already started to repay his faith.
Ayew was on target against Chelsea on his Premier League debut, helping Monk’s men to a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Granted the Blues were reduced to 10 men for the majority of the second-half, but Ayew proved a constant thorn in their side throughout, stretching the back four and allowing Bafetimbi Gomis, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jefferson Montero to exploit the gaps in Chelsea’s usually sturdy defence.
The Frenchman hassled and hurried Chelsea’s defenders throughout and immediately dismissed any questions over his fitness and ability to withstand the intensity of the Premier League. He lasted the full 90 minutes against Jose Mourinho’s men and produced one of the most impressive top flight debuts in recent memory.
In his second fixture, Ayew found the net once again as Swansea earned a 2-0 victory over Steve McClaren’s Newcastle United. Once again, the 25-year-old caused problems throughout and could have added to his tally but for some phenomenal last-ditch defending from the ever-reliable Fabricio Coloccini.
Although Ayew was withdrawn after 71 minutes against the Magpies, he played his role in Swansea’s comfortable victory and led from the front as the Welsh side pressurised 10-man Newcastle all afternoon. Ayew’s high work rate and efficiency in attack are just two of his greatest attributes, while his finishing ability is close to that of an out-and-out striker.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go so smoothly against Sunderland at the weekend. Despite his best efforts, Ayew couldn’t find the net and missed out on the opportunity to net for the third consecutive match. Swansea came up against an energetic Sunderland side, while goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon was in inspired form to prevent Ayew’s team-mates from securing a crucial away victory.
From the opening three matches, Ayew has already proven his ability. In fact, the 25-year-old has been incredibly impressive, and you could be forgiven for thinking that he has played in the Premier League throughout his career. Ayew’s energy, charisma and prowess are his greatest traits, but his link-up play, adaptability and versatility will also prove useful for Monk’s side throughout the campaign.
While his potential is much lower than that of Sterling, Firmino and Depay, Ayew could turn out to be the best signing of them all. Ayew offers Swansea a potent threat on the flanks and, along with Jefferson Montero, is part of a formidable duo that will cause problems for the top flight’s greatest defensive units.
Ayew won’t go down as one of the most expensive transfers this summer, but he’s more than capable of making a colossal impact on the Premier League throughout the season.
