Not much was expected of Russia at the World Cup this summer, least of all from their own supporters. As they prepared to take on Saudi Arabia in the opening game on June 14, the Luzhniki Stadium was a picture of pessimism. Yet, 90 minutes after kick off, there couldn’t have been more of a contrast; the 5-0 victory asked some heavy questions about their opponents, but it meant football fever swarmed thousands of miles across the country.
Poor displays at Euro 2016 and the Confederations Cup last year forecasted one of the worst performances from a host nation in recent years. A hamstring injury suffered by Alan Dzagoev just minutes into that emphatic win over the Saudis magnified the negativity; but a collective drive under manager Stanislav Cherchesov has inspired them to a quarterfinal appearance against Croatia. Egypt were beaten on matchday two before Uruguay gave them a dose of reality in their final game; as Group A runners up, they faced the might of Spain in the last 16 back the Luzhniki and, to the surprise of everyone, prevailed on penalties. Teamwork and an effective tactical system have been crucial to their success, but one player in particular has been a catalyst.
Aleksandr Golovin came into the tournament as an exciting young talent; the 22-year-old winger, who has thrived in a more central role in Dzagoev’s injury, was linked with a move from CSKA Moscow to the Premier League. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been credited with an interest, while Juventus have kept tabs on him too. If the World Cup has proven anything, it is that he deserves to be admired; Russia may not have been fancied before this summer, but their star man could be one of those who uses their collective performance to enhance his career with a big transfer.
Going by history, it may not be the most sensible move to sign a player directly after a major tournament. For one thing, their price tag will inflate off the back of what could simply be a purple patch in form, and the best transfers require careful planning and preparation.
But if some of the teams mentioned have already kept an eye on Golovin, then his burgeoning reputation will mean he is worth the risk. He impressed in the Europa League last season before CSKA’s journey was ended at the quarter final stage by Arsenal; the Gunners may have seen even then that he would be worth a bid this summer. Whatever happens against Croatia on Saturday, and the Russian public will believe anything is possible after the Spain victory, Golovin will have his pick of offers once the tournament is over.
In terms of physique, Golovin is well suited to English football; at 5 foot ten, he has a good frame and rarely gets pushed off the ball. His form in the World Cup suggests he would hit the ground running; there is no fear in his game and he thrives with the ball at his feet, while carrying a goal threat. His free kick against Saudi Arabia was the icing on the cake for Russia in that match, but he has two assists to his name, too. Denis Cheryshev and Artem Dzyuba have each scored three times; they were rampant in the first two group matches, and while their impact understandably dwindled as the opposition grew in stature, Golovin has remained a key player going forward.
Though he was linking up well with Dzagoev early on against Saudi Arabia, and the consensus was their partnership would be crucial to Russia’s chances, Golovin has thrived alongside Cheryshev, and the freedom afforded to him by the two defensive midfielders behind him, namely Yuri Gazinsky and Roman Zobnin, has allowed him to shine.
Every club wants to sign the best players, but Golovin suits certain teams better than others. Manchester United signed Alexis Sanchez in January, and he provides a very similar service, cutting in from the left wing and running directly at the heart of the defence or supplying the strikers; Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are already struggling to usurp the Chilean from Jose Mourinho’s first team. At Arsenal, it is a similar story, though Unai Emery has something of a conundrum in attack; Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Mesut Özil both occupy central areas, while Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang thrive in the box. Even without Golovin in that equation, there isn’t a lot of balance on paper.
Perhaps, then, it is an opportunity for those at Chelsea to strike a deal. Further speculation of a civil war between manager Antonio Conte and the board arose after a disagreement over pre-season, but the Italian remains in charge. Preferring the use of wing-backs, Conte allows his attacking players to interchange, meaning both Eden Hazard and Willian have performed well in the last two years despite some on-pitch turmoil at Stamford Bridge. Willian has not seen eye to eye with Conte for quite some time, and Manchester United and Barcelona seem keen to sign him. If Chelsea can receive north of £50million for the Brazilian, having reportedly already rejected a bid of that amount from the Catalans, and reinvest in Golovin, a player eight years younger who can offer something similar to Conte’s system, that would certainly be a deal worth doing.
There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Conte right now, with very little sign of a way forward. Transfers may not yet be taking priority, but Aleksandr Golovin would be worth it for Chelsea, or any top club, once he has finished inspiring Russia at their own party.
