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What spread as another of those ridiculous transfer rumors has steadily started taking shape of its own, leaving many in disbelief. East Bengal FC have somehow conjured the heart to set their eagle eyes on one of the most sought-after midfielders in the country - Mumbai City's Apuia Ralte.
While signing the 23-year-old would ideally be a no-brainer for any side if the opportunity presents itself, for the Torchbearers acquiring his signature could act as the final piece of the jigsaw. A player that could elevate them from the clutches of mediocrity to title contenders.
It's not merely his brand value that East Bengal will cherish, but Apuia is a realistic solution to all their midfield woes.
Apuia brings control in the heart of the midfield
Anyone who has closely followed East Bengal's 2023-24 season will have noticed one glaring issue: their lack of control in the midfield. Except for Saul Crespo, no player consistently performed, forcing Carles Cuadrat to frequently shuffle his midfield combinations. Whether deploying a midfield three or two, East Bengal struggled to dictate the tempo, even when leading or dominating play.
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While Souvik Chakrabarti was crucial to their Super Cup success, it's evident that his current form doesn't make him exceptional on the ball. Apuia Ralte, however, is a different story. He can control the game, set the tempo, and provide creativity from deep—qualities currently managed by Crespo. But Crespo's deep-lying role has hindered the link-up between midfield and attack.
Apuia's creativity from deep could provide a new dimension to East Bengal
As mentioned earlier, the ball-playing ability of every other EBFC midfielder except Crespo has been questionable throughout the season. So has been their output. But Apuia is head and shoulders above the options at the Kolkata giants' disposal. His creativity on the ball allows him to feed the attackers, and find intricate passing channels despite operating as a deep-lying midfielder.
The prodigal talent also has a bit of a goal-scoring threat about him as shown briefly during his stints with Mumbai. It's another option for Cuadrat that the Spanish tactician could work with. The dynamism will also be a welcome change in an otherwise rigid structure.
Apuia will add balance across the board for East Bengal
Currently, Cuadrat faces uncertainty regarding the output from his Indian midfield options, complicating squad planning. Should they add another Indian midfielder? If so, should it be a holding or attacking midfielder? Or should they rely on overseas players for these roles?
You place Apuia into that squad, and plenty of those knots start untangling. Given his tender age of 23, he is a long-term option for one of those spots. Saul Crespo will certainly take up the other. Then, Cuadrat can happily approach an overseas option to deputize as his no-nonsense, ball-winning midfielder.
Thus, there's ample reasoning behind why and how Apuia has suddenly transformed into a priority transfer for the Red and Gold Brigade.
