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By • Jordan Russel
(Dawid Kownacki- Sampdoria)
Since film producer, Massimo Ferrero, completed his takeover of Sampdoria just over three years ago, the Blucerchiati have gained a reputation as one of the transfer market’s smoothest operators. Having brought in and developed the likes of Joaquin Correa, Luis Muriel, Milan Škriniar, and Patrik Schick before selling them on for huge profits, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris has become a hotbed for some of the world’s finest footballing talent. There is no sign of the trend bucking either, given that coach Marco Giampaolo can call upon the likes of Lucas Torreira, Dennis Praet, Karol Linetty, Nicola Murru, and Gianluca Caprari to name but a few. A stellar cast list – Footy Scouted is sure you will agree – but arguably the most exciting of all their young starlets is a guy who is yet to fully stamp his authority on first team matters: David Kownacki. The 20-year-old Poland youth international striker has already made quite a reputation for himself in the few opportunities to impress he has been given this season. No one is hitting the panic button just yet though. Given how inexperienced he was when he arrived in Serie A last summer, it was clear from the outset that the decision to sign him from Lech Poznań was made with the long-term in mind. Even at this early stage in his career, it is almost inevitable that he will leave the Marassi a much-improved player – physically, mentally, and tactically. This time last year, the aforementioned Schick had done nothing to suggest he would soon be on the radar of some of the world’s biggest clubs. Six months later, he became Roma’s record signing. Kownacki will be given more game time as the campaign progresses, perhaps with a view to him featuring much more regularly during the 2018/19 season should Samp be successful in their quest for Europa League football. Given how impressive their track record has been in recent seasons, Sampdoria have earned the right to manage Kownacki’s development in the way they deem best for him and for the club. It is clear that Duván Zapata and Fabio Quagliarella are ahead in the pecking order for now, so he and his entourage must remain patient and realise that his chance will come. There is no better place to improve than under the tutelage of Giampaolo, who considers the development of players to be just as important as results. Inevitably, Kownacki’s outstanding potential has earned him regular comparisons to Bayern Munich star, Robert Lewandowski. Before becoming a household name across Europe during his four-year spell at Borussia Dortmund, the 29-year-old also boasted a fine goalscoring record at Lech Poznań. Sufficed to say, a nation is already dreaming of the young pretender being able to follow in a similar path to Poland’s all-time record goalscorer. Indeed, the Ekstraklasa can take a great deal of credit from the way in which they give youngsters such as Kownacki the chance to grow as players. As former Poland Under-15 coach Mirosław Dawidowski told UEFA’s official website: “[After he scored five goals in two Under-15 friendlies in Germany], his family were inundated with calls from German and English clubs who wanted to take Kownacki away, but they said ‘no’ and he stayed at Lech. It was a great decision as he has had wonderful conditions to develop there.” In terms of his actual playing style, Kownacki offers everything that we have come to expect of the archetypal modern-day striker. He is very proactive in his approach, and is not a penalty box centre-forward who just waits on the ball arriving at his feet. He is also more than capable of playing on either wing – as he did at various stages of his youth career – and is regarded as a fine penalty taker. He can offer different solutions tactically, and it is testament to his willingness to put the team first that he can perform with such distinction out wide too. Though he is still developing physically and will more than likely be deployed in tandem with another centre-forward during his time at the Marassi, there is no doubt that he has the characteristics required to lead the line on his own one day in a similar vein to Lewy. Fellow former Lech striker Mirosław Okoński said of him: “He is not selfish; he looks to deliver the pass when he sees another player in a better position. He has huge potential.” Despite the fact he has been limited to a mere ten appearances since joining Il Doria, he already has five goals to his name and few would bet against him reaching double figure before the end of the campaign. The emergence and development of players such as Kownacki shows that Serie A is changing for the better and ambitious clubs are now willing to invest in youthful talent rather than trust in a merry-go-round of average veterans. Kownacki has all the ingredients needed to become one of the best strikers of his generation; he really is that good. He is at the ideal club in which to develop into a more rounded player and is destined to play for one of the giants of European football in the future. As Miro Okoński said: “He could be the next Robert Lewandowski, but why not even bigger than Lewy? I like his style.”