Why 2015/16 Has to Be the Season PSG's Jean-Christophe Bahebeck Breaks out

On Monday afternoon, Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne confirmed they had signed Paris Saint-Germain’s Jean-Christophe Bahebeck on a season-long loan deal.

This is now the third loan spell in four seasons for the 22-year-old forward, and this time he has to take full advantage of the opportunity.

When looking for players to break out at PSG this season—outside of the usual suspects Serge Aurier or Adrien Rabiot—Bahebeck would have been an obvious choice. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact he needs to show this season that he is a striker that can play at the top level in Ligue 1.

It was felt that two failed previous loan spells may have proved that he didn’t have what it takes, but as he has grown up, you can see glimpses of what is a very promising player.

In his first spell away from Paris he played for newly promoted Troyes, and apart from a few fleeting moments, it was a difficult spell. Over 27 league games he only scored three times while setting up two.

A year later, more was expected of him at northern club Valenciennes, but he played less and after 19 games his numbers dropped to just two goals and one assist. His minutes-per-game average increased, but the level of performances didn’t.

Mike Janes/Associated Press

Before the start of last season, the then-21-year-old finally showed more than just glimpses of class. Playing at the respected Toulon Youth Festival, Bahebeck was the key player for France as they reached the final of the tournament. Beaten 5-2 by Brazil, Bahebeck scored twice, making him the competition's top scorer with four.

Taking advantage of a number of key players resting after the World Cup, Bahebeck started the season quickly, scoring five goals in five games in pre-season. It was hoped that he would finally be given his chance to impress for his boyhood club.

Alas, it wasn’t to be and out of Bahebeck’s 15 appearances, only three came from the start. With two goals and three assists in the league, it is clear that he is good enough to make an impact, but Laurent Blanc prefers to persist with the bigger names, regardless of form.

For Ezequiel Lavezzi last campaign, you now have to add Angel Di Maria into the mix, making it near impossible for Bahebeck to find regular minutes. Fellow youth product, Jean-Kevin Augustin, is now in the same boat. He will play the Bahebeck role this season—after an impressive pre-season—and it will be interesting to keep track of how many minutes he can feature this campaign.

Bahebeck will now hope the follow the path of former Saint-Etienne loanee Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. While owned by AC Milan, the Gabon striker had mixed loan spells at Dijon, Lille and Monaco before joining Les Verts on loan in January of 2011.

In five months and 14 games, Aubameyang only scored twice but he had shown enough at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard that the Rhone-Alpes club decided to make his move permanent.

After scoring just 16 goals in four seasons, the striker exploded into life, scoring 16 goals in just one season. He followed this up with a 19-goal campaign in 2013—earning a big-money move to Borussia Dortmund.

At his official unveiling, Bahebeck commented on how Saint-Etienne is a special club and one that is regularly finishing in the top five of Ligue 1. He hopes that his time at Les Verts can help accelerate his career, and he understands he arrives with the reputation of a player that must prove himself.

Bahebeck needs to use this time at Saint-Etienne to show he has the ability to follow Aubameyang’s path—but perhaps he needs a permanent move away from the capital club before he enjoys a true breakout season.