I know we should not make threads whithout a link, but there has been a few. The below from Teamtalk is from december. While the sources for now is not great, it such an obvious target that I think he deserves a thread.
https://www.teamtalk.com/manchester...ield-gem-sources-reveal-robust-january-battle
For those who haven’t followed Ligue 1 closely this season, Sangaré has been arguably the best all-action midfielder in France after Vitinha. He’s been the absolute engine for a Lens side that is currently sitting 2nd, the "best of the rest" behind PSG. If you look at the underlying numbers like ball recoveries, progressive carries, and successful tackles. He is performing at a truly elite level.
The Architect of the "Mali Pipeline"
What people need to understand is that the Red Bull-Mali connection wasn't just a stroke of luck; it was a highly sophisticated scouting infrastructure that Vivell was highly involved in creating between 2015 and 2020. While most European clubs were waiting for African talents to shine in U17 World Cups, RB shifted the focus to "Pre-Tournament Scouting."
Vivell spearheaded the formal partnership with Yeelen Olympique in Bamako. Vivell and his team implemented a process where players like Sangaré were monitored in their local environment for up to 24 months. They weren't just looking at technical ability; they used data-driven markers to identify how fast they look for a forward pass after winning the ball and the capacity to perform high-intensity bursts throughout 90 minutes.
Sangaré is almost like a poster child for this approach. By the time he arrived in Salzburg in September 2020, Res Bull and Vivell already had a complete profile of him. Even though Vivell moved to Leipzig just weeks before the official signing, the groundwork like the scouting trips, the data sets, and the relationship with the academy was made while he was at Salzburg.
Why Sangaré makes sense for us now:
- We know Vivell likes to return to players he has "grown" from a young age. He reportedly pushed hard for Benjamin Sesko last summer for the same reason and he might have years of internal data that other clubs simply don't have.
- In a PSR-regulated market, paying £35m for a player you've tracked for 6 years could turn out to be low risk, high reward
- We’ve lacked a high-volume #8 who can actually defend and transition vertically
I’d be surprised if he isn't a midfield target this summer. He’s the finished product of a process Vivell started back in 2019 and it could almost be a pride/ego-thing for Vivell. It just makes too much sense.
https://www.teamtalk.com/manchester...ield-gem-sources-reveal-robust-january-battle
For those who haven’t followed Ligue 1 closely this season, Sangaré has been arguably the best all-action midfielder in France after Vitinha. He’s been the absolute engine for a Lens side that is currently sitting 2nd, the "best of the rest" behind PSG. If you look at the underlying numbers like ball recoveries, progressive carries, and successful tackles. He is performing at a truly elite level.
The Architect of the "Mali Pipeline"
What people need to understand is that the Red Bull-Mali connection wasn't just a stroke of luck; it was a highly sophisticated scouting infrastructure that Vivell was highly involved in creating between 2015 and 2020. While most European clubs were waiting for African talents to shine in U17 World Cups, RB shifted the focus to "Pre-Tournament Scouting."
Vivell spearheaded the formal partnership with Yeelen Olympique in Bamako. Vivell and his team implemented a process where players like Sangaré were monitored in their local environment for up to 24 months. They weren't just looking at technical ability; they used data-driven markers to identify how fast they look for a forward pass after winning the ball and the capacity to perform high-intensity bursts throughout 90 minutes.
Sangaré is almost like a poster child for this approach. By the time he arrived in Salzburg in September 2020, Res Bull and Vivell already had a complete profile of him. Even though Vivell moved to Leipzig just weeks before the official signing, the groundwork like the scouting trips, the data sets, and the relationship with the academy was made while he was at Salzburg.
Why Sangaré makes sense for us now:
- We know Vivell likes to return to players he has "grown" from a young age. He reportedly pushed hard for Benjamin Sesko last summer for the same reason and he might have years of internal data that other clubs simply don't have.
- In a PSR-regulated market, paying £35m for a player you've tracked for 6 years could turn out to be low risk, high reward
- We’ve lacked a high-volume #8 who can actually defend and transition vertically
I’d be surprised if he isn't a midfield target this summer. He’s the finished product of a process Vivell started back in 2019 and it could almost be a pride/ego-thing for Vivell. It just makes too much sense.
