The signing of Denis Zakaria was not much of a news story. It is a loan deal with an option and people remember Saul Niguez's disappointing season. It would be foolish to underestimate the man.
Those who have followed the player's career closely would not be surprised if he takes this chance to impress in the premier league.
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The Switzerland international is only 25 years old. He was one of the most promising talents in Europe before he was injured. This summer, there was still an interest in the club.
Adam Owen was a coach at Servette. Owen told Sky Sports that he was a top performer. Kevin Cooper was the man who gave him his first job. The man came on and that was it. From then on, he was a part of the team.
It was difficult to find the talent. Everyone in the academy was aware of it. He was frustrated that he should have been playing sooner. The timing had to be right for us to keep him.
Owen remembers a great guy who he would like to have worked with for a long time. The club fell into financial trouble and he left. His career went up in smoke.
He was an absolute machine in the physical sense. It was good with the ball. I was not surprised that he went on to do so well. He can drive with the ball. He had all those qualities as a teenager. He looks a lot like Patrick Vieira.
The long limbs and the big stride can be striking when in full flow, and that's why they're compared to Vieira. Other names have been brought up. Lothar Matthaus once compared him to another person.
Zakaria was one of only seven players in the Bundesliga who had a passing accuracy of over 90 percent last season. He is able to break up play with his picks.
There is a close-up view of this ability from the sideline of the coach. Otte tells Sky Sports that he is an unbelievable box-to-box player.
I can only praise Zaki. He is very modest. If his contract hadn't been up, he would have gone earlier if he'd been healthy, and he'd have been a $30m transfer if he'd not been injured.
He deserves it and I hope he does well.
There has not been more fanfare because of that injury. Is it possible that a player who was unable to convince the Bianconeri of his worth in his 11 appearances there can play a big role in the league?
Owen is an assistant manager at Hibs and has a PhD in sport and exercise science and coaching, having worked as performance director at Rangers and fitness coach for the Wales national team. He thinks there is time for Zakaria to get to the next level.
He is young and able to handle it. He needs to have the right training and rehabilitation. There is a development there. progression and development can still be achieved by senior internationals.
It's important to take a chance on that person. He has dealt with the step up to every level he has gone to. I have no doubt that he can step up again if he gets himself back to where he needs to be.
There is a chance for him to do even more.
If Zakaria can fulfill that potential, then he will be more than just a stopgap signing.
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