10 Key Players To Watch In The Premier League This Season
5. Bafetimbi Gomis
The physical presence affectionately known as Baby Boo Drogba has just ended up at Swansea City at the age of 28. While that alone indicates that the former Saint Etienne striker did not quite live up to the billing, it doesnt mean that he is not still a good player. Just ask the defenders who struggled to mark Wilfried Bony during the last campaign.
Its not surprising to see why he has drawn comparisons with the former Chelsea icon, possessing a powerful build and aerial presence. Commanding defenders at will, Gomis is an expert at winning the ball, holding it up, and above all else, scoring goals. With 110 goals in 333 Ligue 1 appearances for Troyes, St. Etienne and Lyon, he knows where the back of the net is, reaching double figures every season since 2006. Just three seasons ago, Gomis bagged four goals in a Champions League encounter with Dinamo Zagreb, in the process claiming the record for the fastest hat-trick ever scored in the competition.
Having been courted by Newcastle United for the bones of six years, it will be interesting to see what reception he will receive at St. James Park, having apparently snubbed several contract offers in the past, dating back to when Kevin Keegan was in charge.
Whether Bony is there to play alongside him or not, Gomis will certainly be given opportunities aplenty to impress Garry Monk in Wales. A few seasons ago, they could never have dreamt of luring a player of the ilk of Gomis, and if he produces the sort of form that kept him at Lyon for five years, he will be a huge hit at Swansea.