Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has suggested that Ryan Sessegnon could become more of a player in the mould of Marcelo rather than Gareth Bale. The 18-year-old has turned heads across Europe with his sensational performances for Fulham and his tally of 16 goals and seven assists has put the club within a game of top-flight promotion.
Speaking to Cadena Ser, Jokanovic admitted that Sessegnon can feature anywhere on the left side of the pitch but he sees him progressing into more of attacking full-back like Marcelo, he said: “He can play in two positions, as left-back or at left wing, and that is why he is being compared to Bale. Bale also started in that position before he made the switch to become a more attacking player. From my point of view, Sessegnon can play in different roles but I honestly think he could be more like an offensive back of a big team, like Marcelo. He is an incredible player and I personally believe he will end up at a big club. We shall see.”
Sessegnon has been of interest to both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur over the past 12 months and with his contract expiring in two years’ time, he could be tempted to jump up to a bigger challenge. Nevertheless, the teenager’s immediate focus should lie on the Championship play-off final against Aston Villa where they are reckoned as favourites.
Fulham have been the most consistent side in the Championship in 2018 and their rich run of form witnessed them go on a 23-match unbeaten streak prior to their defeat to Birmingham City in the final day of the season. Fulham have since experienced another loss at the hands of Derby during the first leg of their playoff semi-final and it will be interesting to see how they fare in a neutral ground in the final.