Che Adams – Scout Report
Birmingham City’s Che Adams seems to be the man in demand in the Premier League. The 20-year old forward has been garnering serious attention from several top division clubs including Leicester City, as per reports from the Leicester Mercury. The report also claims that Stoke City and newly promoted Brighton & Hove Albion are also monitoring the youngster.
Adams enjoyed a hugely promising debut campaign with the Blues, having joined them last summer. The attacker finished the season with 7 goals and 6 assists from 40 appearances in the Championship. His moment of reckoning came on the final day of the season, when he scored the only goal against Bristol City that kept Harry Redknapp’s side in the Championship for the next season.
While there has been no official bid from the Foxes or any other club yet, there is plenty of interest surrounding the England U-20 striker. So, let’s take a look at what makes him such an attractive prospect for the Premier League clubs.
Footballing Background
Born in Leicester, England, on July 13, 1996, Adams started his footballing journey by joining the youth academy of Coventry City, before moving onto join non-league side Ilkeston FC in 2013, after a spell with Oadby Town. His performances for the non-league sides attracted a lot of interest from teams from the higher league divisions, but it was League One outfit Sheffield United who captured his signature in the summer of 2014.
He started off on a decent note in the League One for the Blades, making 13 appearances in which he managed 3 goals – one of which came in the League One playoff finals, which the team lost. He prospered in his second term with United as he finished with an impressive tally of 12 goals and 5 assists from 41 games.
Adams’ displays resulted in a lot of speculations over his future ahead of the 2016-17 season. After playing the season opener for the Blades, a bid was accepted from Championship side Birmingham City shortly afterwards. His debut campaign for the Blues finished with 43 appearances across all competitions, in which he produced a return of 7 strikes and 6 assists.
Adams has represented the England U-20 side on two occasions, making his debut against Czech Republic back in September 2015.
Style of Play
Primarily a centre-forward, Adams brings a lot of options and variety to the table as he can slot in comfortably in the wide areas and in a No. 10 role, as he did on various occasions for Birmingham City this past campaign.
The 20-year old’s biggest strength is his pace and ability to dribble past defenders at speed. Last season he completed a total of 63 dribbles out of an attempted 91, indicating that he has the confidence and the self belief in his abilities. His zippy nature in the attacking third tends to force errors from the opposition defenders, thus helping him win free-kicks in dangerous areas on regular occasions.
However, his height is a disadvantage when it comes to aerial battles. Last season, Adams just managed to win a total of 27 aerial duels out of 108 attempts. His crossing from the wide areas is another aspect that needs to be worked upon, if he is to well and truly develop into a dangerous attacker.
What Does The Future Hold?
While there has been no hint from the player that he would like to move on from Birmingham, the attraction of playing in the Premier League is something that may very well turn his head. However, it will not be easy to convince the Blues to part with their crowned jewel, more so considering that he still has two years left on his existing contract.
Leicester do need a bit of dynamism and spark in the attacking third and Adams does have the potential to provide just that if they manage to sign him up in the summer. But they will need to stave off competition from the likes of Stoke and Brighton, along with Southampton, if they are to get their hands on the 20-year old.