With the season now winding down, Udinese is (also) starting to look beyond the current championship, focusing on market strategies and the construction of the squad for next year. One of the departments most under observation is undoubtedly the attack, where the situations of Lorenzo Lucca and Keinan Davis, whose future in bianconero is still uncertain, remain to be defined.
In the meantime, the Friulian management has moved well in advance, focusing on a profile that promises physicality, international experience and a nose for goal: it is Vakoun Issouf Bayo, a 1997-born striker, bought outright last summer and temporarily transferred on loan to Watford.
The Messaggero Veneto newspaper has drawn a detailed sketch of the Ivorian center forward, who has been showcasing his qualities in the English Championship this season, collecting 34 appearances and 10 goals so far in the Hornets’ jersey. Among the most notable performances is the hat-trick scored against Sheffield Wednesday last Nov. 2, a performance that dragged Watford to a resounding 6-2 away win.
Bayo has distinguished himself as a tenacious striker with good physical presence (184 cm) and skilled in aerial play, especially near the penalty area. His header goals against Cardiff and West Bromwich Albion, the latter enhanced by a brace, confirm his ability to make an impact in the sixteen yards. Also memorable was his backhand goal at Derby County, which highlighted his explosiveness and individual technique.
His performance in the first half of the season was his most prolific, with nine goals scored between August and December, a period in which he also regained the Ivorian national team jersey after a six-year absence. However, in 2024 the striker experienced a slight decline, scoring only once, again against Cardiff last Feb. 14.
Despite this, Bayo’s profile appears perfectly compatible with Serie A, especially in a context like Udinese, where matches are often decided in the final minutes. His ability to take over and make himself dangerous could prove decisive in the crucial moments of matches.
Not to be overlooked is the striker’s rich international background: Bayo has played in six different countries, accumulating experience in Tunisia (Etoile du Sahel), Slovakia (Dunjaska Streda with 22 goals and 9 assists in 32 appearances), Scotland (winning two championships with Celtic), France (Toulouse with 13 goals and 4 assists in 36 appearances), Belgium (Chaleroi with 14 goals and 4 assists in 26 games) and England. This path has forged his character and enriched his game vision, making him an interesting profile for Italian soccer as well.
While developments on the Lucca-Davis front are awaited, the newly acquired Bayo (2 appearances with Ivory Coast) appears poised to become one of the new offensive weapons of Udinese version 2025/2026.
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