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10 Africans unsettled in the English Premier League: #7 Daniel Amartey
The January transfer window is a few weekends away. In our anticipation and excitement of possible moves, we have taken to lay down 10 “unsettled” African stars in the English top flight, the Premier League. The Ghanaian EPL title winner with the Foxes back in 2015/16 season is the seventh man on the list.
Leicester player Daniel Amartey in action during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on September 29, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe)
Of course, it is nice to see the likes of Mo Salah, Percy Tau and Hakim Ziyech shine for their nations over the most recent international break but it also raises questions about some popular names who are finding themselves in sticky situations. There are a number of African players dubbed to be the next Sergio Ramos and Xavis of this world but are currently unsettled at club level. Their potential is endangered by their lack of game time. Here’s a list of the XI players whose progress has stalled. What better time to look at these than now when the January transfer window is fast encroaching?
CM: Daniel Amartey
We all know the importance of versatile players in the squad who can come in and get the job done in the absence of specialists in that specific position. Leicester FC have their own in Daniel Amartey who is comfortable playing out of position in the right-back and centre-back roles. The problem comes when the player is then seen as just a stop-measure for that position and not as an expert in their own field. For example, Amartey is now being seen in the RB position more than in the midfield after the club invested in other “dirty” workers like Wilfred Ndidi and Nampalys Mendy.
Verdict: It looks unlikely that the 23-year-old will usurp Ndidi, so he should consider making the right-back position his own like Lauren did in Arsenal’s Invincibles season.