International coaches including Glenn Whelan and managers Charlie Adam and Brendan Rodgers explain what Stoke City hope to get from Bosun Lawal
It will be a long journey for Bosun Lawal from Dublin to Stoke City. The 21-year-old has been building a reputation as an imposing defensive midfielder who can carry the ball – and fill in at centre-back when required.
Indeed, that might end up to be his best position and that’s where he was used through the junior ranks. He had joined Watford’s youth team from Bohemians in 2019 and was lured north to Celtic two years later and got his first proper taste of regular senior football last season on loan at Fleetwood Town.
Stoke are hoping to tie up a permanent deal to bring him in and there are already enough familiar names who can give an insight into what can be expected if and when he arrives at the bet365 Stadium…
He’s big, he’s solid, he’s aggressive…
Glenn Whelan has coached Lawal for Republic of Ireland at youth level and is surprised that Stoke have had the opportunity to lure him south.
“Technically he’s very good. He’s a big, strong powerful boy, he’s versatile – he can play in midfield, he can play across the back line,” he said as a guest on Radio Stoke’s Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast.
“Obviously he went on loan last year and was a real handful for a lot of teams in League One while playing in, I have to say, a poor team. I think Fleetwood struggled quite a bit but he was the standout.
“I’m a little bit surprised that Brendan Rodgers hasn’t given him a chance up at Celtic but they’ve obviously got different issues with Champions League football. It’ll be a really good addition to the squad and will improve the squad massively as well I think.”
Lawal has played at centre-back and in midfield for Fleetwood and it’s in the latter role that Whelan hopes to see him develop now.
He explained: “I’d like to see him in midfield to be honest, especially for us (Ireland). When we’ve had him in with the Ireland team, it’s a real area we need improvement in.
“His versatility is good – and a negative for himself because he’s one of those players who will drop in if needs be – but I’d really like to see him cement that number six role if possible.
“Jordan did really well (against Coventry) and they’ll compete for that position but he’s different to Jordan. He’s powerful, he’s big, he’s solid and he’s aggressive.”
Not many midfielders like him in the Championship
Charlie Adam, Whelan’s former midfield teammate and now boss at Fleetwood Town, was in charge of Lawal for the second half of last season as the youngster developed into one of the most highly-rated young players operating in League One.
Fleetwood couldn’t avoid relegation in the end, but Lawal left an impression that his career was heading in the opposite direction.
“What he has done since he has been here is give us a good base in terms of his size and physicality,” said Adam in the spring.
“How he dribbles with the ball, his touches and passes. There are not many midfielders like that in the Championship in England let alone League One. So, he has got a bright future.
“We are lucky to have him here at Fleetwood and in the coming months to the end of the season we will send a better player back than when he came in here.”
A very, very gifted boy
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is sanctioning Lawal’s exit but it doesn’t seem like a decision he’s made lightly.
He said during pre-season: “I think for young players there always has to be a plan in place. I wanted him to go out on loan last season and get minutes and pressure in his legs and his brain. He did that and he did very well at Fleetwood.
“He’s come back and I can see the difference with that and he’s looked good in pre-season. It’s looking at him in a couple of positions. He’s a very, very physically-gifted boy but he’s a talent with the ball.
“He’s adjusting to the training, the tempo and the speed and we’ll see where we’re at with him by the end of pre-season.”
With the game in front of him he’s exceptional
Jim Crawford, the Ireland under-21s coach, has been closely watching Lawal’s progress – and also wondering in what role he can have the most impact.
“Bosun has a real presence on the pitch, whether it’s centre-back or midfield,” he said this summer.