Looks like Chris Cadden could be close to completion. An interesting one as he spent this season playing wing back (when he wasn't injured for 4 months).
What will we be getting? (have looked at previous season and this with some basic stuff)
The above is from 2017/18 when we reportedly made a 450k bid. With xA of 0.17 Cadden was in the top 20 of all players in the league and 5th for RW. Playing this season in an altered position has seen this numbers take a hit with 0.06 Assists P90 and 0.09 XA P90.
Interestingly other numbers haven't suffered from the change:
As a goal scoring threat, Cadden is very limited, irrespective of position. However, his passing has been consistent across the two seasons. Key passes (passes that lead to a shot, with assists removed) are some of the best in the league both this season and last.
For a KR winger, Cadden's crossing and dribble numbers are pretty low...certainly well below Whyte.
Depending on how we utilise Cadden we could see different sides to his game. If played on the RW he has the ability to create with final 3rd passes rather than crossing, however if we use him as a RWB (in place of Long) we will see a similar passing profile but from a deeper position.
With Cadden at RWB he possesses the qualities that I feel Long lacks. With our game based around the wingers, our primary plan is to feed them. If we were looking to upgrade Long then Cadden would certainly fit the mold in that regard...but how is Cadden defensively?
I feel we would have more to gain from Cadden at RWB, Whyte in front then Sykes/Henry playing #10.
Cadden joining adds some flexibility and will be a good passing player (creatively!) something we lack (aside from Henry).