With a move that hasn’t quite worked out a Barcelona, Alex Song has spent the past year at Upton Park reviving his career. And it seems he’s done a fine job of it too.
West Ham are known to be desperate to take him back on a permanent basis and Arsenal have begun sniffing around their former player, however Chelsea have made their move and opened talks with Song’s representation. A fee however is yet to be agreed betwen the clubs.
It’s no secret that John Obi Mikel is soon to be out the door at The Bridge, and Song would seem to be an ideal replacement without costing the earth – which is an important factor for a player who will likely play second fiddle to Matic.
Reports indicate that a £5 million bid will be enough for Barca to let the player leave.
Song’s Stats 2014/15 Season with West Ham
In total Song made 28 Premier League appearances for West Ham last season (3 from the bench) while he also appeared 3 times in the FA Cup.
Alex Song
Mins: 2,249
Tackles per game: 3.3
Interceptions per game: 1.5
Fouls per game: 1.9
Clearances per game: 1.1
Pass Completion: 76.7%
Assists: 3
Goals: 0
Purely for comparison’s sake, lets look how he compares with Nemanja Matic’s season at Chelsea last year. The stats below are from Matic’s 36 (1 from the bench) Premier League games only.
Nemanja Matic
Mins: 3,124
Tackles per game: 3.6
Interceptions per game: 2
Fouls per game: 1.3
Clearances per game: 3.3
Pass Completion: 86.4%
Assists: 3
Goals: 1
Idolising Essien
What’s more, Song has always idolised a former Chelsea legend, Michael Essien. Speaking in 2011, Song said:
“I watched Michael Essien in the first team, and it made me very very happy. When he started to play he did very well. Everyone just loved him. That is when I realised; if I work hard I can be like him. I think this time I can be a good professional if I work hard.”
What better way to emulate Essien than walking in his footsteps at The Bridge.
