With the winter transfer window in its final few days, many clubs across Europe have sprung into action to improve their squads in key areas. Among them is Liga Portugal side Sporting CP, who are considering a loan move for Tariq Lamptey from Premier League club Brighton. The 22-year-old full-back is regarded as a top young player and has impressed many with his blistering performances from the right-back position in the past couple of seasons. Lamptey also played in two matches for Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Below, we look at some stats to understand why Tariq Lamptey has drawn the interest of Liga Portugal’s Sporting CP.
Season overview
In the current season with Brighton & Hove Albion, Tariq Lamptey has found playing time hard to come by. He has started only one out of the 16 matches he has played thus far, averaging 20 minutes per game. The Ghanaian full-back has struggled to make it into Brighton’s starting lineup, and therefore, he has been the subject of a loan move, with potential suitors already aware of the potential Lamptey possesses.
Tariq Lamptey usually plays at right back, but on rare occasions, he can also slot in as the right midfielder. The viz above shows the percentile rank of the player’s current stats compared to other right-backs in the English Premier League. Lamptey ranks at the very top for dribbles and opponent penalty area touches. He also has a high rank in terms of shot attempts, which goes to highlight his attacking attributes. The player has also performed decently in the possession department with respect to progressive passes but doesn’t have decent stats to show for it in the defence department because of the lack of game time.
Lamptey’s positional play
Tariq Lamptey is an offensive-minded and energetic right-back who rushes up and down the pitch. The viz above shows the player’s heat map from the current Premier League season. We can observe that Lamptey displays high intensity throughout the right flank and covers a lot of ground on this side. Currently, he averages 0.67 shots per match and makes 36.04 passes with an accuracy of 80.1%. Additionally, he makes 2.91 passes to the final third, 5.15 passes to the penalty area, and 0.5 shot assists per match.
As a right-back, defensive gameplay is Tariq Lamptey’s primary responsibility. The viz above shows that his average defensive line position is not too deep in his own half. The 22-year-old fullback makes 4.7 recoveries and 2.91 interceptions per match. Furthermore, he contests 5.6 defensive duels with a win rate of 52%. As for aerial duels, the right-back attempts 1.57 such contests per match with a 28.6% win rate.
The two visuals above highlight Lamptey’s offensive and creative characteristics. He constantly sprints up and down the flank, utilising his speed. He is also capable of making penetrating carries into the penalty box, with 27 such instances seen in the current season. The 22-year-old can take on players with his dribbling skills and whip crosses into the penalty box. Currently, he attempts 7.39 dribbles per match with a 51.5% success rate and 4.7 crosses per match with a 33.3% success rate. Furthermore, he makes 3.13 progressive runs per match while averaging 2.7 touches in the penalty box.
What could be Lamptey’s role at Sporting?
Sporting CP could bring in Tariq Lamptey as a like-for-like replacement for 23-year-old right wingback Pedro Porro, who has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur. Lamptey can serve as a starting option at the right wingback position in Sporting’s defensive line while imparting quality and depth to the overall squad.
The viz above compares the last season’s performances of Tariq Lamptey with Pedro Porro’s performances from the current season in their respective leagues. It can be observed that both players outperform each other in a few areas, but Porro has the overall upper hand on his Ghanaian counterpart. The areas where Lamptey has better stats are dribbles, accurate passes, positioning, and defensive duels won. With sound defensive capabilities and attacking prowess on his side, the Ghanaian international could ensure himself a starting role on the right side of Sporting’s backline.
Tariq Lamptey’s potential move to Liga Portugal could mark the next step in his promising career. Sporting is a well-suited destination for the budding right-back, who has demonstrated an offensive mindset as well as the qualities of a reliable defender. For now, it remains to be seen if Sporting makes the move for Lamptey before the conclusion of the winter transfer window.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
