Emergence of star quality: The exciting Senegal ace linked with Pompey move
Pompey were today linked with Gornik Zabrze star Ousmane Sow - here’s the lowdown on the attacker linked with a £2.6m January move.
An eye-catching array of attributes
It’s easy to see why eyes are on Sow, with his explosive power and direct running putting sides on the backfoot in the Ekstraklasa this season. Largely operating as an inverted right-winger, he likes to take up positions hugging the touchline and drive at defences, where he’s shown he’s capable of cutting in and unloading shots or going on the outside. Sow is difficult to knock off the ball with a sharp turning circle, producing turns in tight spaces and intelligent body positioning to protect the ball.
Unusual pathway
Sow has not been through the academy system, taking a pathway which saw him playing with friends in rural Senegal until he linked up with a second division side in his homeland after completing his education. After being identified by a talent spotter, the winger moved to France where his nomadic existence around the country commenced.
A nomadic existence
After stays with Auxerre and Paris FC, Sow found the going tough and was rejected on trial with a French fourth-tier outfit before linking up with Arles-Avignon and Furiani-Agliani at regional level, where he began to make his mark.
‘It was difficult because the football is not the same like Africa,’ Sow said of that period. ‘You need motivation because there are good players. It was difficult, but this is football and I said (to myself) I need to give more. Then maybe I can get a good club step by step.’
A tough Belgium start before finding a home
A move to Belgium followed in 2023 for Sow, as he linked up with Olympic Charleroi - but it proved a tough period amid the club’s financial issues. A switch to Lierse SK brought happier times, as the winger bagged in seven goals and three assists (23-24) and four goals and eight assists (24-25).
Sow said of his time in Belgium: ‘The club (Charleroi) had a lot of problems, after this I spoke to the president to say I wanted to go. They wanted me to play as a striker and I’m not a striker. I tried, but it was not good. They were asking me to do these positions, but it was not my favourite positions. It was not easy for me.
‘Lierse was a very, very good club for me. When I was there I was very happy from the first game. I played the first game and I scored, it was a good moment and I have a lot of friends there. The fans liked me and they’d send me messages, they are good fans. I liked this experience.’
And then on to Poland
Gornik Zabrze came calling last February, as the direct runner agreed a £260,000 move to the Ekstraklasa, with a period of settling in returning a single goal from 12 appearances off the bench and one start.
Those numbers have improved considerably this term for the Dakar-born man, with three assists and nine goals already registered this term. Despite those very decent stats, Sow feels he is seeing improvement in all areas of his game.
He added: ‘Before I came to Gornik I was good, but not to this level. Now I improve more and more. That’s important because I’m not 25 and I need to improve more and more. Gornik has helped me with this.
‘For me, I’ve improved defensively because before I didn’t defend too much. Now I try more and it’s important. Also my positioning is better and better - and my finishing also.’
World Cup dream
Sow’s displays this season saw him on standby for a Senegal squad place at the Africa Cup of Nations, with hopes on World Cup involvement next summer.
‘First I will be happy (to play for Senegal) because there are very good players,’ he said. ‘Maybe I can go with the national team, but I need to learn with Sadio Mane and Ismaila Sarr, because they have experience and play with strong teams. I need to learn and I can improve with them.’
Valuation soars with eyes on Senegal man
It looks as if Sow’s valuation has increased ten-fold in less than 12 months, with Dutch side Brondby reportedly placing a bid of £2.6m plus add-ons for the player. Pompey are said to be keen along with Czech top-flight side Viktoria Plzen, with his future expected to be decided this month.