Three Great Players on Relegation Teams
Rayan Cherki- Olympique Lyon (Ligue 1)
The placement of Rayan Cherki on this list shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. The 20-year-old is one of the best prospects in the world and has been linked to slides like Juventus, Chelsea, PSG, and Manchester City. While some of the excitement around the Frenchman has died down because of Lyon's last place standing in Ligue 1, he still possesses a deep bag of techniques and skills. The attacking midfielder is capable of linking play or generating offense by himself with slick dribbling. Cherki’s greatest strength lies with his ability to navigate in tight spaces, whether that be with quick passes or dizzying skill moves. While his numbers have never jumped off the page, Cherki’s four goals and six assists last season were a good representation of how creative the young Frenchman can be.
Jonathan Bamba- Celta Vigo (LaLiga)
Photo Credit: kessiya.com
Born in France, but representing Ivory Coast internationally, Jonathan Bamba stands out in a Celta Vigo side sitting just inside relegation places at 18th in LaLiga. At 27- years-old, Bamba boasts an experience and feel for the game clearly evident in his playstyle. Equipped with a deft touch and the versatility of both a winger and a number 10, Bamba is an all-around solid attacking player. It was in France with Lille where Bamba grew his reputation, netting 27 goals and dishing out 25 assists in five Ligue 1 seasons. While the attacker’s outside dribbling is without a doubt his most aesthetic attribute, Bamba’s real strength is his comfortability away from the penalty area. With a strong understanding of spacing, Bamba has found success dropping deep to receive passes and operating in a more central role just outside of the box in attacking scenarios.
Luis Sinisterra- Bournemouth (EPL)
The Colombian’s loan move to Bournemouth from EFL Championship club Leeds United has not gone exactly as planned. The winger was one of Leeds’ most dangerous attacking threats last season, scoring five in the 2022-23 EPL campaign. While the athletic Sinisterra did see his time with Leeds end prematurely due to an ankle injury, his lack of playing time since becoming a Cherry has been confusing. The 24-year-old’s pace and finishing qualities seem to be fit for a team set up to play on the counterattack, however he’s only appeared in four EPL matches this season. Despite playing just a handful of minutes, Sinisterra has made his presence felt, being the sole Bournemouth goal scorer in the clubs’ 6-1 loss to Manchester City last week. With the Cherries just one point off of safety, Sinisterra’s precision on the attacking end could play a major role in the squad’s race to escape relegation.
