Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and the players who followed them—Arjen Robben, Gareth Bale, Neymar, Mohamed Salah—have permanently changed our perception of the winger's role.
In the past, wide midfielders were expected to hug the touchline, wait for a pass, beat the full-back, and deliver a cross into the box. This routine was often repeated, but the reality remained that even the best players turned their crosses into goals in only 1-3% of cases.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi revolutionised this concept, demonstrating that speed and technique could be harnessed in far more effective ways. On average, a striker converts around 10% of their shots into goals. Hence, a winger who shifts possession into a strike rather than a cross massively boosts their team’s chances of success.
This transformation defined the landscape of 21st-century football. However, with Salah's exit from England and Messi and Ronaldo departing the international stage, Premier League clubs seem to have forgotten the fundamental role of their wingers.
The current state of this position is starkly illustrated by the transfer of Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. The 26-year-old Senegalese player is recognised as one of the world’s best dribblers.
Last season, he ranked second for successful dribbles (72), only behind his current teammate Jeremy Doku. The previous year, he was fourth, trailing only Doku, Mohamed Kudus, and Salah.
A highlights reel of Ndiaye may lead one to believe he is among the greatest players on the planet, boasting explosive pace, excellent footwork, and powerful shots.
However, the catch is that those highlight compilations include nearly all of the goals he scored in the last two seasons. Excluding penalties, he netted just 11 times for Everton. When combined with his assists, this yields a modest 0.25 goal involvement per 90 minutes.
Nevertheless, Manchester City forked out €70 million for his signature.
Ndiaye is far from the only high-priced winger known for easy feats of skill but lacking in concrete output. Over the last three seasons, Premier League clubs have splashed out eye-watering sums on 23 such players.
This list features notable transfers such as Bradley Barcola to Liverpool for €125 million, Savinho to Tottenham for €87.7 million, and Briana Mbemo to Manchester United for €75 million.
Further noteworthy transfers include Pedro Neto (€60 million) and Geovani Kenda (€50 million) to Chelsea, Noni Madueke (€56 million) and Christos Tzolis (€40 million) to Arsenal, along with Victor Munoz to Liverpool for €40 million.
Of 19 players transferred from Europe’s top five leagues, only five reached the mark of 0.5 expected goals and assists (xG+xA) per match before their transfers: Barcola, Ouattara, Madueke, Mbaye, and Johnson.
So, why have Premier League clubs seemingly overlooked productivity? There are three main factors at play.
Firstly, tactical changes. Top clubs have adopted a style prioritising control and risk minimisation. For example, Manchester City’s Enzo Mareska often fields Marc Guehi in a deeper midfield role. Teams systematically advance the ball, leaving wingers isolated against defenders on the flank, where losing possession is deemed safer than in the centre of the park.
Secondly, an obsession with physical metrics. Clubs increasingly rely on data concerning speed, acceleration, and distance covered. While these metrics correlate well with dribbling skills, they do not accurately reflect a player's true effectiveness on the pitch.
Finally, the illusion of potential. Scouts and coaches are enamoured with the prospect of what a player could become in the future. A player with outstanding dribbling is often viewed as an uncut gem. Coaches believe they can teach them to score and assist, hence clubs continue to pay top dollar for them.
