In what proved a frantic final 24-hours of the summer transfer window, Steve Clarke broke West Brom’s club transfer record to acquire Stephane Sessegnon from Sunderland. The Benin international had been on the market all summer and, despite interest from cash-rich clubs in Qatar, makes his way to the Hawthorns in a reported £6m deal.
Sessegnon has signed a three-year contract with the midlands outfit and after being omitted from the Black Cats’ previous match day squad due to off-field indiscretions, is looking forward to starting afresh:
“It’s been a long day but I am just happy to sign for West Brom. West Brom play very good football and have good players so for me it’s a great choice. The gaffer said to me he wanted me because he wants to play more football, add more movement and create chances. I’m happy to sign for West Brom and I’m excited to start now.”
The History
The 29-year-old’s career began back in the 2003/04 season, where he played twice for Requins de l’Atlantique in his native Benin. Sessegnon then made his way to France the following year to play his trade for Ligue 2 outfit US Créteil-Lusitanos – over the course of a couple of campaigns, he turned out 68 times and found the net on 10 occasions.
Snapped up by top-flight Le Mans in the summer of 2006, Sessegnon was initially utilised as a defensive midfielder before being moved further up the pitch; having registered six goals and eight assists in 61 league matches, he was soon on his way again, with Paris Saint-Germain beating the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle to his signature in August 2008.
Sessegnon’s first couple of years in the French capital proved successful. Installed as a first-team regular by Paul Le Guen, he produced nine goals and 14 assists from 63 appearances but a chance in management saw him omitted from the starting line-up for the start of 2010/11. The midfielder featured 14 times in the first half of the season but with 10 of these appearances coming courtesy of the bench, he decided to move to Sunderland when the January transfer window opened.
Over his first few months on Wearside, the playmaker managed three goals and a pair of assists from 14 league matches before registering 14 goals and 17 assists in 71 league games across the next two seasons – producing scores of 161 and 141 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL). Sessegnon started the first two fixtures for Paolo Di Canio’s side this term before being dropped for the Gameweek 3 loss at Palace due to disciplinary reasons. In terms of internationals, the Baggies new boy has turned out for Benin 48 times and grabbed nine goals.
The Prospects
Bearing in mind West Brom are the only side yet to find the net over the first three Gameweeks, Clarke’s last-minute shopping spree was understandable. The Baggies boss also snapped up Victor Anichebe from Everton and Marseille’s Morgan Amalfitano and, in an interview with the official website, revealed his hopes for the season ahead:
“We needed to strengthen in the forward areas and we’re very hopeful that Stephane and Victor will fit the bill. Stephane is quick and direct and can be a match-winner. He has the individual skills that can turn a game. He creates chances for others as well as scoring his fair share of goals. Along with Morgan, I’m hoping Stephane will add more creativity to the team.”
Sessegnon’s versatility is likely to work in his favour within Clarke’s ever-changing tactical set-ups. Already this season, the midlands side have trialled 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 systems without success – while the record signing could be fielded wide right in the front three, he also offers Clarke the option of returning to last term’s preferred 4-2-3-1, with Sessegnon moved to the role in “the hole” behind a lone forward.
Given the outlay on the Benin international, you’d expect to see him installed in the first XI but with a multitude of attacking midfield options available, it remains to be seen just where Scott Sinclair, James Morrison, Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans stand in the pecking order. Nevertheless, neither Sessegnon, or West Brom, have done anything to persuade us they are worthy of investment thus far, with Fantasy managers likely to steer well clear until there’s a turnaround in fortunes.
His price, when compared with fellow Baggies, hardly helps Sessegnon’s case, though. Coming in at 6.8 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) and 6.7 in the Sky Sports game and 3.5 in the Sun Dream Team, the former Sunderland man is far more expensive than any of Clarke’s main midfielders and, in terms of FPL, is also costlier than the likes of Nicolas Anelka (5.4) and Anichebe (5.3).
With a schedule that hands the midlands outfit showdowns with United, Arsenal and Liverpool in the next six, in addition to a trip to neighbours Stoke, there’s little reason for optimism right now – Fantasy managers will be more than happy to steer clear for the short-term and, unless Clarke can get his side firing again, perhaps beyond.
