Sport nationWest Ham United’s sale of Declan Rice in 2023 has left a void in the team’s midfield. Rice, who joined Arsenal for a record £105m, was a key player for the Hammers, and his departure has been deeply felt. In an effort to replace him, West Ham has signed Carlos Soler on loan from PSG, but some fans are left wondering if the club has already sold the perfect replacement – Flynn Downes.
Downes, who was sold to Southampton for £18m after a successful loan spell, has been impressive in his performances for the Saints. His statistics suggest that he has similar qualities to Rice, and he may have been the ideal replacement for the England international.
One of the key aspects of Rice’s game is his ability to control the tempo of the match with his passing. He is known for his composure on the ball and his ability to pick out a pass that others can’t see. Downes, too, has shown that he has these qualities in abundance. According to statistics, Downes averages 76.7 passes attempted per 90 minutes, with a pass completion rate of 93%. This is higher than both Rice and Soler, who average 58.8 and 64.3 passes attempted per 90 minutes, respectively.
But it’s not just Downes’ passing ability that makes him similar to Rice. He also has a strong defensive game, averaging 2.12 tackles per 90 minutes, compared to Rice’s 2.22. He also averages 1.10 blocks and 1.61 interceptions per 90 minutes, which is similar to Rice’s statistics.
Soler, on the other hand, excels in creative passing, averaging 1.64 key passes per 90 minutes, compared to Downes’ 0.88. However, Soler’s defensive statistics are not as impressive, averaging only 1.23 tackles and 0.56 interceptions per 90 minutes.
So, why did West Ham sell Downes if he has similar qualities to Rice? The answer may lie in the club’s desire to sign more technical players, like Soler. However, in doing so, they may have missed out on the opportunity to replace Rice with a player who has a similar balance of defensive and on-the-ball qualities.
Downes’ sale to Southampton has been a success for the Saints, who have started the season poorly despite his impressive performances. He has started all three games for the club, playing 270 minutes and showing that he has the quality to play at the highest level.
In conclusion, West Ham’s sale of Flynn Downes may have been a missed opportunity to replace Declan Rice. Downes’ statistics suggest that he has similar qualities to Rice, and he may have been the ideal replacement for the England international. Instead, the club has signed Carlos Soler, who excels in creative passing but lacks the defensive qualities of Rice and Downes. Only time will tell if West Ham’s decision to sell Downes will come back to haunt them.
Amina Umar
Sport nation
