Chelsea full-back Baba Rahman is the latest player linked with a move to Pride Park. Who is the 23 year old full back? What would he bring to Derby if he did sign? We spoke with David Chidgey from Chelsea Fan Cast to find out all about him!
Does the Baba Rahman to Derby rumors have legs? Or is it just paper talk?
They may well be as Rahman seems to be perpetually on loan. I gather that Derby, Watford, Middlesbrough and even Leeds might be interested in him.
What type of fullback is Baba Rahman?
Given he only played 23 times for Chelsea, it was hard to assess. He was highly rated when we bought him from Augsburg as a 21 year old and was seen as a long term replacement for Cesar Azpilicueta. It all went wrong for him though and I remember particular the away match against Southampton where he made a big error which let Shane Long in to score. Mourinho hooked him at half time and his career at Chelsea fizzled out somewhat after that, ultimately being loaned out to Schalke (managed by former Chelsea player and manager Robbie Di Matteo at the time).
What are his strength's and weaknesses?
He was a good tackler winning 83 percent of his tackles in his only year in the German top flight; something of an all-action full back, getting up and down the pitch and having an impact at both ends. The error against Southampton apart, his defending and getting back could be suspect like so many modern attacking full backs. When watching him, he looked like a player out of his depth at that level and at a club as big as Chelsea.
He was signed for £14 million, potentially rising to £22 million back in 2015. But he's only made 15 appearance for Chelsea. Why? Is the the change in the managers office or something else?
Answered above, but it never helps with the amount of managers Chelsea has, the number of players already out on loan and of course Mourinho who bought him, had a meltdown that season ending up leaving, so that would have been unsettling for most of the squad let alone a young player trying to make his name.
He's been on loan the past four years with three different clubs (Schalke 04, Riems and Mallorca) have these loans been a success?
- I really don't know. I remember hearing he got sent off for Schalke early in his career there for two footing someone, which actually endeared himself to many Chelsea fans. I gather his career since Chelsea has been plagued by a number of serious injuries, resulting from a ruptured meniscus in 2017.
With the signing of Ben Chilwell and with Marcos Alonso and Emerson at the club, is there a future of Baba Rahman at Chelsea?
I would imagine its doubtful, even though we only have one favoured left back in Chilwell. Both Alonso and Emerson are two players Chelsea are trying to offload. I suspect that they would look to promote from the youth now they have a good left back in Chilwell and given Rahman's failure to establish himself and his injury record, I can’t see him getting a chance.
How do you think he would cope with a move back to the Championship?
If he can stay fit, then why not, he's been picked up by various European sides, Champions' League sides, so I reckon he could do well.
What will it take for him to fulfill his potential?
I wonder if that moment has passed. Football is often as much about luck than ability and Rahman seems to have had more than his fair share of bad luck. He won’t be the first player to come to a big side with a glowing reputation who fails to push on.
If he signs, what could Derby fans expect from him?
I really don’t know, he was at Chelsea for such a short time we really didn’t get an idea of how good he was. People were quick to jump on his back when he was dug out by Mourinho and at the time, Chelsea were making some strange transfers such as Papy Djilibodjy, and then Conte bought more deadweight.
Do you think he could be a success at Derby?
Again impossible to know. If he goes to Derby then I'd wish him all the success in the world as I do any former Chelsea player.