Arsenal FC striker Yaya Sanogo has expressed his desire to follow the footsteps of Nwankwo Kanu as he moves closer to completing his loan move to Ajax.
The 22-year-old striker has found it hard to break into the Arsenal team since making his move to the Emirates in 2013. Sanogo has scored just one goal for club so far, before he was loaned out to Crystal Palace in the winter transfer window last season. The French U-21 international clearly needs regular first team football in order continue his development and he is now on the verge of signing for Ajax on an one-year loan deal.
Ajax manager Frank De Boer has expressed a lot of faith in Sanogoa s talents and believes he has the potential to become a world class center forward.
De Boer backs Sanogo to show his talent
a Hea s obviously had a lot of competition at Arsenal and was very young when he arrived there,
a He showed a lot when he was 17 at Auxerre, albeit in the second tier, but hea s also come to the fore with Arsene Wenger.
“He stands to be a great talent, ita s just difficult to get there at Arsenal.
a I think we can give him the opportunity to once again show that he has talent.
“Wenger is also still fully behind the idea that he is a top class player. He just needs to make the next step now.a a The Ajax manager told the press.
Sanogo hopes to emulate Kanu
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Sanogo is also delighted at the opportunity to play for such a historic club and has expressed his desire to follow the footsteps of former Arsenal striker Nwankwo Kanu. The former Nigerian striker spent three seasons at Ajax, before signing for Inter Milan, and eventually with Arsenal.
a Ia m fit, Ia ve been training for the last two weeks.
a The manager of Ajax (Frank De Boer) called me last week and said a I want you to play for Ajaxa .
a Ia m very happy, I didna t think a big club like Ajax wanted me. Now I want to work hard to play.
a I hope to score a lot of goals. I know of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Nwankwo Kanu, legends who played for Ajax.
“Kanu was a special player, a top player, very technicala and a good finisher.a a The Arsenal youngster said.
Sanogo wona t get a better club to develop as a footballer
Ajax wona t have any clause to make the move permanent at the end of this loan period and this could be the ideal move for both Arsenal and Sanogo. Arsene Wenger has already stated that he will retain Chuba Akpom this season, who impressed in the pre-season match against Singapore Select XI. This means Sanogo has fallen further down the pecking order at the Emirates and will need to prove himself once again.
Ajax are one of the best clubs in Europe when it comes to nurturing young talents. Under the guidance of De Boer, Sanogo will have the opportunity to develop his game and fulfil the talent he showed early on in his career. Moreover, he will also have to chance to work with Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp, which the assistant manager at the Dutch club.