Last summer, Manchester City spent £55 million on Belgium winger Jeremy Doku. This may have seemed like a hefty fee, but Doku showed his potential during his debut season in England. Doku gives Pep Guardiola’s side a different dimension; at 22, he will only get better.
Doku is raw but still has many attributes that make him a threat. The Belgium international is similar to Pep Guardiola’s wingers in the past, such as Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.
We will look at what makes Doku so good and why he is on to watch out for in the 2024/25 season.
Directness
One thing that separates Doku from the rest of the Citizen’s wingers is his directness when dribbling. The likes of Grealish and Bernardo Silva have their qualities in possession. Grealish, in particular, is excellent at retaining possession, which he has been criticised for. Football nowadays is a system-based game that has killed the mavericks of football. As a result, wingers are not as direct as they once were.
This is where Doku stands out. Jeremy Doku is a winger who constantly takes his fullback on. He has the fearlessness that wingers used to have, and this type of player gets fans off their feet.
When Belgium is one-on-one with his fullback, instead of cutting inside and passing it to his midfielders, Doku attempts to beat his man. If we look at the statistical data, the Belgium winger ranks in the 99th percentile in progressive carries and successful on.
This shows that the young winger is not only persistent but also efficient in taking on players. When a fullback is up against Silva and Grealish, who are essentially midfielders playing on the wing, they know what to expect.
However, when Doku comes on or even starts, he constantly attacks his fullback. This directness gives a team a completely different dynamic. We have already seen how his directness has helped Manchester City break down teams.
Explosiveness
There are different types of wingers in football but there are only a few who are as athletically gifted as Jeremy Doku. The explosiveness that Doku possesses is a massive boost for any winger. The ability to turn and cut in quicker than other wingers makes the Belgian unpredictable.
This is a trait that Kylian Mbappe and a young Cristiano Ronaldo also shared. Doku’s explosiveness allows him to cut in on the right or to go down the line quickly, giving the winger more time to pick his pass or to shoot. The most explosive athletes are typically the most exciting to watch in sports.
This is something that the Citizens have seriously lacked in recent years. Jack Grealish is seen as a silky player who beats players by drifting past them. The same goes for former wide-man Riyad Mahrez, who was known for being excellent 1 v 1. Doku’s explosiveness is the one aspect that City’s wingers lack. Having this option at his disposal will massively benefit Pep Guardiola.
The wide man ranks in the 99 percentile for receiving the ball in attacking areas. This makes him a nuisance for the opposition. Having an explosive direct winger isn’t exactly a fullback dream.
Tactical flexibility
One vital skill for a Pep Guardiola player is the ability to be tactically flexible. The young winger Doku can play on both the left and the right. He can also go down the line and cut inside, allowing Guardiola to use him in various roles in this City side.
If Pep wants to use him as someone to go down the line and cross the ball to Haaland, he can do so. If he wants Doku to go for a goal and cut inside, he can do that, too.
Jeremy Doku’s age makes him a huge signing for City. He is young enough for Pep Guardiola to mould him into a world-class player. In the system that City now deploys, the side is fast and physical, which suits the Belgian down to the ground.
The young winger is at the perfect club to improve his tactical flexibility. Pep Guardiola is well known for trying players in different positions. Who knows, we may see Doku deployed as a striker or maybe even a midfielder in the future.
The 22-year-old’s style is undoubtedly perfect for the Premier League. If Doku finds consistency and listens to Pep, we may see the birth of one of the best wingers in the world.