Moise Kean impressed for Paris Saint-Germain in their 4-1 round of 16 win over Barcelona in the Champions League. Kylian Mbappe has got much of the attention in the aftermath of the game, deservedly so after a fine hattrick, but Kean’s goal was typical of a striker in form being in the right place at the right time; something he has been doing increasingly in his season on loan at PSG.
Moise Kean Impressing on Loan At Paris Saint-Germain
Striker Has Secured Starting Role
Moise Kean was allowed to leave Everton to join PSG on loan at the beginning of the season, having failed to secure a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s team. Kean had joined Everton from Juventus in 2019 with a growing reputation, having scored ten goals in 17 Serie A appearances. However, eyebrows were raised when Kean secured a loan move to PSG when you consider their frontline already boasts the likes of Neymar, Mbappe, Mauro Icardi, and Angel Di Maria.
Despite all the attacking talent at the Parisian club’s disposal, Kean has secured a starting spot. Under Thomas Tuchel, and now Mauricio Pochettino, the Italy international has been trusted in the starting line up more often not and is fast becoming a key component of the PSG side. Still only 20-years-old, Kean started on the right-hand side against Barcelona but has frequented the centre forward role on several occasions this season as well.
Kean has netted an impressive 14 goals in 19 appearances in all appearances for PSG this season. Before joining the club in October 2020, Kean had also scored two goals in two Carabao Cup appearances for Everton. PSG are looking to secure a fourth successive Ligue 1 title and Kean looks like he will be a key component of the club’s push for their tenth French league title – something that few people would have expected to say at the start of the season.
Moise Kean Showing Form That Everton Are Missing
At the Camp Nou, Kean ghosted in unmarked and confidently headed home a Leandro Paredes free-kick. This goal was another example of the striker’s increasing maturity and his growing ability to add different types of goals to his game. This hot streak in front of goal is a far cry from the youngster at Everton who looked desperate to impress but found opportunities increasingly difficult to come by.
With only two goals in his debut season on Merseyside and the emergence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as a regular goalscorer, it would have been difficult to argue with the club’s decision to allow Kean to leave on loan. However, with Calvert-Lewin the only trusted out-and-out striker at the club and the €27.5 million that the club spent on Kean, it could be said that the club should have given the player more time to provide a return on the investment.
While it could be argued that Kean’s spell on loan has revitalised the striker and restored his confidence, this is unlikely to be to Everton’s benefit. It would seem unlikely that this is a loan with a view to the player returning to Everton for a fresh start but more to get his wages off the book with a view to find a buyer in the summer. While Kean’s stock may have risen, and consequently his asking price, with Calvert-Lewin facing a spell on the sidelines it begs the question: would Everton have been better off keeping the striker?
Everton started the season strongly under Ancelotti and their opening weekend victory over Tottenham Hotspur looked a sign of a new Everton ready to challenge the top four. However, results have been indifferent following the strong start, with recent defeats to Fulham and Newcastle United notable examples of this.
With Calvert-Lewin currently out injured, and no conventional centre forward trusted to replace him, Ancelotti is tasked with finding solutions in attack. Richarlison is likely to be favoured through the middle but is generally more effective from the left. New signing Josh King may have to hit the ground running which could be difficult following an inconsistent season with Bournemouth before the January move. Considering the lack of depth up front, the Everton hierarchy may well be ruing their decision to let Kean join PSG, especially now that he is flourishing in big Champions League fixtures.
Moise Kean Looking to Secure Italy Spot in Upcoming European Championships
One of the reasons attributed to Kean’s temporary Everton departure was that he wanted to be in contention for the national team. With Kean’s current form it would be hard for the national team to ignore him come this summer’s European Championship.
Kean has been capped eight times by Italy, following his first senior call-up in November 2018, and has scored two goals in the process. In March 2019, Kean scored his first goal for his country in a 2-0 win over Finland in Italy’s opening UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match and, in starting the fixture, became the youngest striker to start for Italy since 1912.
Italy manager Roberto Mancini has handed Kean each of his appearances for Italy and certainly seems to rate the youngster highly. Had Kean stayed getting little game time at Everton, it would have been difficult for Mancini to justify selecting the former Juventus player. However, now it is quite the opposite. Should Kean continue his inspired form until the end of the season he will surely be impossible for the Italy boss to ignore and could even force his way into a revitalised Italy squad.
Main Photo
