Let’s check in on one of our players currently out on loan, Kendry Paez.
The attacking midfielder is playing for our sister club Strasbourg in Ligue 1, and I believe this is an important step for his development.
I’ve picked up on an article from FootballFancast this week on Paez.
They write:
‘Páez has adapted quickly to life at BlueCo’s other club, Strasbourg, scoring his first Ligue 1 goal last month, heading home at Stade Jean-Bouin as Liam Rosenior’s side beat Paris FC 3-2 in the capital.
‘As the table documents, it is early in both Páez career in general but also his time at Stade de la Meinau, how ever long that may be, but he is already having an impact for les Bleu et Blanc.
‘His numbers in terms of progressive carries and carries into the opposition’s penalty area are both particularly eye-catching, reminiscent of, arguably, Chelsea’s greatest ever attacker, another winger who made his name in Ligue 1 – Eden Hazard.
‘Well, if Páez turns out to be half the player Hazard was, the £17m paid to secure the teenager’s signature will prove to be money well spent.
‘In wide attacking areas, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, Pedro Neto and match-winner Estêvão all featured during the victory over Liverpool, not forgetting the injured talisman Cole Palmer, but Páez could prove to be the best of the lot.’
I’ve caught a couple of Strasbourg games this season but I obviously lack the time to watch them as much as I want to. So it’s hard for me to comment. What I will say is that I think Paez certainly needs this season out on loan in such a league, I think it will really show us where he’s at come the end of the season.
Let’s calm down on any Hazard comparisons for now though, yeah?
