3 players Kerala Blasters FC should attempt to sign ahead of ISL 2024-25 season
Another season brings a fresh start for Kerala Blasters FC. After a season without winning any trophies and missing out on the top four, the Blasters parted ways with Ivan Vukomanovic and announced Mikael Stahre as the new head coach for the upcoming season.
Stahre is a Swedish coach and has managed top-tier clubs in his country, including AIK FC, IFK Göteborg, and BK Häcken. He has also coached in the United States, Norway, China, and Thailand.
With Stahre at the helm, it will be interesting to see the profiles of players the club signs. Several players have already left, most notably last season’s top scorer, Dimitrios Diamantakos.
There are also uncertainties surrounding the futures of multiple players, so the Blasters will likely be active in the transfer market, aiming for early signings.
Tactically, Stahre is known for his flexible approach and preference for attacking football while he also has a reputation for working with and developing young players.
Given the current setup of the Blasters, there are a few key areas that need immediate improvement. With that in mind, here are three signings the club should consider ahead of the 2024-25 season.
#1 Cristian Battocchio
As mentioned earlier, Stahre is quite adaptable with formations but his teams rely heavily on a double pivot in the middle of the park. These players bear the huge responsibility of initiating attacks and controlling the tempo of the game. Consequently, they need to be highly technical and possess excellent vision.
Currently, Kerala Blasters lack foreign players in their midfield, with Adrian Luna expected to take on a more attacking role. While Jeakson Singh and Vibin Mohanan are capable in one of the midfield positions, the team needs a more experienced player to guide the young duo.
One potential signing is former Chennaiyin FC player Cristian Battocchio. The Italian midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements at Chennaiyin under Coyle’s system but he certainly excels in a deeper role when utilized to his strengths.
Battocchio would be a good fit for Stahre’s needs, as he is highly technical, capable of executing both long and short passes and has valuable experience. With a season of ISL experience under his belt, he could significantly strengthen Kerala Blasters’ midfield.
#2 Tekcham Abhishek Singh
The full-back position is another area that needs strengthening for the Blasters. Vukomanovic was forced to rotate the likes of Sandeep Singh, Prabir Das, and Naocha Singh due to their lack of consistency throughout the season. They will want to add more depth to this position, especially given the role of a full-back under Stahre.
The Swedish coach prefers his full-backs to push higher up the pitch and maintain width, allowing the wingers to move inside and congest the middle. More importantly, they need to have the energy to track back and be strong in one-versus-one situations.
The market for experienced full-backs is quite limited, so Kerala Blasters could target Punjab FC’s right-back Abhishek Singh. Just 19, Abhishek had his breakthrough season in the ISL last year under Staikos Vergitis. He quickly became a key asset for Punjab FC due to his ability on the ball, energy to cover the flanks, and tenacity in winning duels.
Signing him would align with the Blasters’ model of developing young talent while also adding needed depth to the full-back position.
#3 Jerry Mawihmingthanga
The winger position is another area where the Blasters need reinforcements. Mohammed Aimen emerged as a breakout star on the left flank but the team lacked creativity on the right side, as Rahul KP struggled with form while Daisuke Sakai was more effective from the left.
Therefore, the Blasters need to find a right winger who also has the potential on the left side effectively. They could certainly consider Odisha FC’s Jerry Mawihmingthanga, who had a solid season under Sergio Lobera.
Jerry can maintain the width or drift inside from the flanks and is arguably one of the quicker players in the ISL. At 27, he has already made over 100 appearances for Odisha and is in his prime, with the experience to adapt quickly.
Although Jerry started last season strongly, he fell down Lobera’s pecking order in the latter half. With Odisha looking to strengthen their attack further, Jerry might be on his way out and Kerala Blasters could be an ideal destination, as they can offer him consistent playing time.