As soon as October arrives, there are three types of people.
There are those who start brainstorming Halloween costumes, usually excited parents of young children. Others begin stocking up on stocking filler and start trialling their roast chicken recipe with a good few months to tweak ahead of Christmas Day. The final camp is no doubt the smallest; those who begin scouring next summer's free agent market. Although I was momentarily in the first when I was a young child, it's now bosman deals, not sweets, that I want.
My favourite type of bosman is not one that takes you by surprise, but rather the player you've had your eyes on for a while. A great example of this is Finland's Onni Valakari, a player that I've had my eyes on for over 20 months, and you guessed it, he's available on a pre-contract in January. So let's consider why securing Valkari for the 2023/23 season and beyond in January is a no-brainer, beyond the obvious financial motivations.
Physical and Statistical Profile
Valakari is a Finnish international who has played in his home nation, Norway and Cyprus, an impressive number of nations for someone who only just turned 23. Some of you may be familiar with his last name, and you’re not mistaken; Onni’s father Simo played for Motherwell; in fact, Valakari Jr was born there.
The Finnish international has a lanky frame, his long and thin limbs perhaps overstate his length, but he is a tall midfielder with gangly legs, a build akin to a mix of Tom Lawrence and Joe Aribo, comparisons to that pair will go beyond physical. As his career has matured, Valakari has gradually made his way up the pitch, starting out as a No.8, developing into a No.10, and now at Pafos playing like a hybrid between a classic No.9 and second striker.
Valakari’s output supports suggestions to field him in a more withdrawn role at Rangers. Below we can see his data processed against his positional peers with over 1000 minutes in the Cypriot top flight. We see a forward who is far more adept at setting up teammates, linking play, optimising limited shooting opportunities and playing an active role out of possession than one who trades on goals and goals alone. This isn’t to say that he would be an ineffective No.9 at Rangers, but rather that the footage and data suggest his value would be maximised in a midfield three, not a front three.
Influence Out of Possession
It should come as no surprise that someone comfortable as deep as the centre of midfield would prove an above-average defender when playing as a No.10 or No.9. This rings true for Valakari, who utilises a solid positional base and game intelligence to duel effectively in all areas of the pitch.
The Finnish international is a reasonably average defender compared to his midfield peers, utilising his long legs and a fish-hook style of poking and prodding, which both Ianis Hagi and Aribo have demonstrated in the past. In domestic play, he would prove more than capable enough in a defensive sense to play as a midfielder. However, I’m hesitant about co-signing his ability at a European level.
Valakari has the perfect profile to be effective in a high-press, strong, quick, and long, compounded by an evident work ethic and good stamina. This is not just a hypothesis; rather, there is proof. Below we can see Valakari’s recoveries in the final third.
The graphic is populated with countless incidents in which we see Valakari regain possession for his side in advantageous situations, allowing Pafos to maintain pressure and keep their opposition hemmed in. Often, Valakari will win the ball and then reset play, as seen in the photo below.
In other situations, Valakari’s possession regains lead to a shot-creating action, as seen below, where he steals the ball from the defender and plays in his forward, who is unmarked on the edge of the box.
Valakari’s ability and tenacity out of possession would provide great value to Rangers. Domestically it would allow them to maintain deep pressure in the opposition half, whereas in Europe, it would provide a much-needed extra layer of protection and perhaps an avenue to goal.
Paying It Forward
Valakari is an unspectacular but effective creator and a stable and reliable option in the build-up. He’s pretty one-footed but can play simple passes with his right. The line-splitting and penetration are solely a virtue of his left foot. Given his time spent in several positions, Valakari is adept at functioning with the ball and teammates ahead of him, next to him, or behind him.
Regardless of the height of his position, Valakari lives in the left half-space and often floats between the byline and central channels. Below we can see his passing radars, which offer insight into his pass location and accuracy. The attacker maintains relatively high accuracy levels across the board but seems most capable and secure when switching play to either wing from the left half-space.
Similar themes remain if we look deeper towards the player's progressive passing game. He’s most effective on the left side of the pitch, playing it to his winger or switching it to the right, but remains a competent progressor all over the pitch.
Below are two good examples of Valakari’s ability to progress the ball whilst simultaneously manufacturing a goal-scoring opportunity; unsurprisingly, he’s playing the ball from the left half-space. His timing and pitching are consistently appropriate and he understands the movement of forwards.
If we shift our lens from ball progression to chance creation, Valakari continues to impress. Below we can see his penalty area deliveries. Several different types of deliveries are apparent; textbook passes, crosses and key passes. Again, many of these deliveries originate from that left half-space, although Valakari retains efficacy around the box and from deeper.
Below are two great examples of Valakari setting up teammates in shooting opportunities.
First, we see him identify his teammate at the edge of the box, slipping him in for a shot despite all the commotion closer to goal.
In this example, he slips in his teammate playing the angles right, leading to a one-on-one opportunity that is subsequently spurned.
Valakari is not a wizard on the ball or a deep-lying playmaker, but he is a dynamic individual who gets on the ball in the right areas and can identify and find his teammates. Although he shows value in both the build-up and progression phases of possession, the Finnish player should not be the primary creator or builder in a side. He wouldn't be so at Rangers.
Goalscoring
This is Valakari’s game. Despite his time as a No.9 not yielding that much of an increase in goals, his baseline midfield numbers are spectacular, as the Fin has provided a steady stream of goals from deep consistently so far in his young career. Unlike most younger players, Valarki consistently outperforms his xG, a sign of top finishing. The likely cause is his ability and accuracy when striking the ball from outside the box. This can be seen in the shot map below, where we see a nice mix of high-quality chances inside the box, and some attempts and goals from far.
It would be remiss not to mention Valakari’s efficiency from the penalty spot when discussing his ball-striking exploits. Despite his youthfulness, Valakari has been a consistent penalty option for the length of his senior career. He’s a consistent option as shown in the graphic below, converting 17 from 23 attempts, preferring to go low and hard over anything else.
Valakari’s clinical nature extends from the penalty spot to open play. One of his favourite ways to goal is the late third-man run. Scott Arfield is a big fan of this and has profited tremendously from this whilst at Rangers, it wouldn’t be challenging to suggest Valakari could do the same. An example can be seen below of this very trait.
To make the point even clearer, here is another example. Again a late arrival means the attacker has been given a relatively free ride into the box, where he receives the ball and slots it into the top corner.
Valakari’s ability to find his spot consistently remains a trump card. His placement is so consistent and doesn’t require him to take the hand brake off or reduce the shot’s velocity. Rangers have long yearned for someone willing and capable to take aim. The addition of Lawrence has helped in that respect, but Valarki is the desired profile, and with the dominance and possession Rangers enjoy, he would be afforded plenty of opportunities to replicate his strike seen below.
Moving With the Ball
Valakari is no Aribo, which isn’t a slight on him per se, but rather a warning not to expect him to waltz past player after player. Instead, he is a capable dribbler with decent control, able to harness his physical profile to beat players. A lot of his best movement is done without the ball, as his timing is excellent, and movement generally intelligent.
Below we can see Valakari’s dribble map. There is a lack of involvement from deep, suggesting that the player is not the type to drop, receive and run at defences. Rather he is most comfortable receiving possession in the final third and making his way to the goal, preferring short and cute dribbles to long marauding runs.
Fit and Feasibility
Yes, and Yes. Valakari’s wage demand should be more than reasonable, although Rangers shouldn’t be naive to the fact that he has a strong bargaining position and will likely be in demand. Although the almost glove-like fit of Valakari and Rangers should see his needs deemed as acceptable.
Valakari’s versatility, youth, and strengths read like a love letter to what is currently lacking in the Rangers midfield. If the club can convince him to return to the nation of his birth, all parties will be happy.
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