We
profile Augsburg full-back Abdul Rahman Baba as Sky sources understand a fee
is close to being agreed with Chelsea.
Factfile
Name: Abdul Rahman Baba
Age: 21
Position: Left-back
Club: Augsburg
Nation: Ghana (11 appearances, 0 goals)
What is his background?
Baba Rahman, as he is most commonly known, started his senior career in his
homeland with Ghanaian Premier League side Asante Kotoko and it didn’t take
him long to make an impression. The full-back played 25 times in his debut
season and was runner-up in the league’s ‘Discovery of the Year’ award. His
form attracted the interest of a number of top European clubs with Arsenal,
Manchester City and Parma rumoured to have been among his suitors.
However, Rahman eventually opted for a move to the Bundesliga with Greuther
Furth as he felt they offered him "the best conditions in which to develop
my career." He turned out 44 times for the club over two seasons, scoring
his first two goals for the club in what proved to be his final game. He
signed for Augsburg last summer and his impressive performances look to have
ensured that he has a number of options, including Chelsea, should he choose
to relocate once more.
What is his style?
Rahman is a rampaging full-back who likes to drive forward with the ball at
his feet and whip balls into the box. This approach helped him to register
four assists last campaign. However, the Ghana international is not one to
shirk his defensive responsibilities and is happy to throw himself into
tackles when necessary. Indeed, he made an average of 3.5 tackles a game in
the Bundesliga season, according to WhoScored.com.
Would he fit in at Chelsea?
Jose Mourinho has said that Chelsea need a left-back and that he expects the
club to sign one before the window closes after Filipe Luis rejoined
Atletico Madrid. Rahman seems to be the man they have earmarked to challenge
Cesar Azpilicueta for the position.
Rahman would provide a different option to the naturally right-sided
Spaniard and may be seen as more attacking alternative. With Eden Hazard
prone to drifting into the middle of the pitch, Rahman could be seen as the
ideal full-back to try and exploit the space created on down the left flank
in a way the more conservative Azpilicueta cannot.
What is the latest on his future?
A deal appears to be very close at this stage with Rahman’s agent confirming
that the player has agreed terms with Chelsea and all that is left to
conclude the transfer is for the Blues to agree a fee with Augsburg, which
Sky sources say is near. For their part, the German side also look to have
accepted that they will lose Rahman having signed another 21-year-old
left-back, Philipp Max, as his replacement.
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