Brentford have established themselves as a strong Premier League outfit since the 2021-22 season. After gaining promotion in that season, the Bees have finished in the mid-table. One of the reasons behind this success was the quality of players that Thomas Frank created. Brentford’s main man has been their captain and forward, Ivan Toney.
Ivan Toney has been scoring regular goals and is one of the best strikers in the league at the moment. He returned to action in January after serving a long ban for betting and gambling charges. Throughout the winter transfer window, the news was revolving around Ivan Toney’s transfer. Top English clubs are behind the forward and the manager recently announced that the Bees will sell him in the summer.
The Bees are always one step forward and have already secured Toney’s replacement. Igor Thiago of Club Brugge is Brentford’s latest signing. The Brazilian has agreed to join the club on a five-year deal for around £30 million. He came to Europe in 2021 and is scoring goals at the top level. Let’s take a look at what Igor Thiago can add to Brentford’s squad.
Demolishing defences in Belgium
Igor Thiago joined Club Brugge this season from Bulgarian giants, Ludogorets. The 22-year-old is enjoying his football in Belgium. He has made 24 appearances in the Jupiler Pro League and scored 16 times. The other goals came in the UEFA Conference League.
This season, the youngster averages 2.5 shots per 90 minutes and has a 50% accuracy rate. All goals have been scored from a close range, with some of these turning out to be tap-ins. Thiago has missed the target on a few occasions. H will be aiming to convert more chances to build up the confidence heading into the Premier League.
This visual compares a player’s actual goals per shot to their expected goals per shot. Players consistently above the diagonal line convert chances at a better rate than expected, showcasing superior finishing. It can be observed that Thiago is one of the best in the business in the Belgian top division.
The above visual highlights a striker’s proficiency at receiving the ball in the penalty area (Receive) and their goals per shot ratio. Top right quadrant players frequently get into dangerous positions and convert their chances effectively. Igor has scored most of his goals from the edge of the six-yard box. This is the reason why Thiago’s rank is in the right quadrant.
Creative side & other abilities
Brentford plays with two forwards in the starting 11. These two players need to link up to score more goals for the team. Igor has three assists to his name in the current season. Most of these passes have been lay-offs.
Another strong element in the Brazilian’s game is his ability to make some high regains. Most of these have been dangerous recoveries and a few are counter-pressing recoveries. This shows that Brentford will have another hard-working No. 9 in the team.
Igor Thiago has won four penalties for his squad in the 2023-24 season. This shows that the 22-year-old can hold up the ball and can even beat the defenders with his skills.
Brentford have been pro-active in finding Toney’s replacement. Thiago is looking like a good buy and the Bees will hope that he delivers in one of the best league in the world.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine