Brentford have completed the signing of Mamadou Sangare for under £50 million, a deal that has already sparked frustration and disappointment in the recruitment departments of clubs across the Premier League. Scouts regularly utilise advanced analytics to ensure such talents don’t slip through the net, yet it’s the West London outfit that has proved the most agile in the transfer market.
This summer, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal prioritised players with Premier League experience to bolster their midfield options. This strategy by the giants played right into Brentford's hands. Although Sangare's transfer is a record for the Bees, it’s quickly shaping up to be a remarkably shrewd investment for the club.
Since their time in the Championship, the West Londoners have been overly reliant on Vitaly Janelt and Mathias Jensen in midfield. The arrival of Sangare has provided the fresh impetus in the centre of the park that the team so desperately needed. It’s now clear why Brentford's hierarchy exhibited no fears following the departure of Jordan Henderson to Chelsea.
