http://freshfootball.co.uk/blog/4560568303/Samed-Yesil-Scout-Report/3429221
One thing that has been plainly obvious in these opening exchanges of the new Barclays Premier League season is Liverpool’s in-ability to score goals. The sale of Fernando Torres, 18 months ago is still haunting the Merseyside club today, and the reds haven’t done themselves any favours this summer after failing to recruit that high profile forward that the Anfield faithful dearly crave. Yet a day before the close of the transfer window, Liverpool broke the news of a signing on their official website, the headline reading “Reds sign youth striker”. A line that will hardly send Liverpool fans imaginations in to over drive, but many may look back at this signing as this summers biggest transfer coup.
Samed Yesil has by no shadow of a doubt experienced a meteoric rise to prominence over the past 18 months, a rise that forced the hand of Brendan Rodgers to move quickly to secure the German 18 year olds signature, ahead of a number of other admirers. The £1 million figure may prove to be a snip if Yesil realises his growing potential, that has got him recognised as one of the brightest and deadliest attackers coming out of Germany. I mean why wouldn’t Liverpool fans be excited about this kid, he even has been nicknamed ‘Gerd’ after the legendary Germany striker Gerd Müller.
Born in to a Turkish family in Dusseldorf, Yesil has an incredible goal scoring record, and has always been a player that has been well above the curve. His first goal for the Bayer Leverkusen under 17 team came at the tender age of 14, and two seasons later he was head and shoulders above the rest, as he was the top goal scorer across all the leagues at Under 19 level. Yesil possess’ a lethal eye for goal. Before his move to Anfield, he had recorded 58 strikes in 80 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen, a record that is especially impressive because he has always been playing at a level that is multiple levels above his age.
Yesil hasn’t only produced his goal scoring exploits at club youth level. After only playing twice for Germany at under 16 level and scoring three times, Yesil has been smashing in the goals for the German Under 17’s. The German prodigy has recorded 19 strikes in 21 outings, amongst this record was his goal scoring exploits at the FIFA Under 17 World cup in 2011, where he notched six goals and picked up the silver boot award.
To look and judge Yesil on just his phenomenal goal scoring record would do him great injustice. While he is a natural marksman, Yesil is equally as effective plying his trade in midfield. He is just as comfortable with the ball at his feet, his touch is secure and his passing precise, he possess’ the intelligence to affect the way the game is played. Yesil is just as equally gifted with both feet and has the creative spark to make something out of nothing. Most notably, although he scored so many goals at the Under 17 World cup, he was also the leading player in terms of assists during the tournament, a statement that speaks great volume about the ability that Yesil controls.
If it wasn’t for Leverkusen suffering a turbulent season during 2011/12, we may have seen Yesil make his first team bow earlier than April of this year. Ironically it was Liverpool legend Sami Hyypia, who took over the reins following the sacking of Robin Dutt, and he gifted a then 17-year-old Yesil his first taste senior action, when he brought him on as a substitute against Hertha Berlin.
After making his Bundesliga debut last season, this was the year that Yesil was going to hit stardom, but he opted for a hefty new challenge, and signed for Liverpool, due to the nature of his position; Yesil will have to look to build a physical presence to cope with the power and pace that the Premier League demands. Yesil will be the first to admit he has struggled in the strength department. Before signing for Liverpool, he went scoreless in four matches at club under 23 level, as he failed to make an impact against players that are physically more mature than he is. A lot of work will need to be done on the pitch as well as off it, as he looks to build that physical presence, that will one day serve him when he his given the opportunity to go toe to toe with some of the Premier Leagues best defenders.
What do I think of him?
Samed Yesil has the potential to not only one of the Premier Leagues deadliest strikers, but also one of the worlds best. There is no doubt that he has a keen eye for goal, and has the technical ability that would have seen him featured more regularly this season in the Bundesliga. However Yesil has opted for the challenge of breaking in to the first team at Anfield, and this move will mean that a lot of work has to be done in the gym, as I feel he wouldn’t be able to cope with the hustle and bustle nature of English football. Yesil will need to be given time to adapt to the new language, the new culture and also a new way of living, but in time I believe that he will pay back his £1 million transfer fee, and when he does – the results will be staggering, and the club will pay dividends.