As Barcelona head into the international break after a superb start to the season, one big questions lingers … what has gone wrong with Luis Suarez? And subsequently, how are Barcelona preparing for a future without him?Several players have been heavily linked with Barca, most frequently Antoine Griezmann, Paulo Dybala and Timo Werner but let’s not forget we also have Paco Alcacer. So, let’s take a look at the strengths, weaknesses, and overall prospects of each respective player.
We start off with the Atletico Madrid man, Antoine Griezmann. As he has shown on a large stage for over two years now, Griezmann has the quality necessary to be a Barcelona player. His ability to combine that quality with his pace and athleticism is something remarkable, and truly differentiates him from other strikers.
Where Griezmann adds to his value is his ability to play defense. As often expected from a Diego Simeone striker, scoring goals isn’t the only requirement, tracking back and putting pressure on the ball is necessary as well.
These two things have also been staples of the “Barcelona” system over the past decade, and Griezmann would adjust very well. However, while extremely talented, there are two large problems with any potential move for Griezmann.
Firstly, while he has consistently played great for Atletico and France, but when put under pressure on the biggest stage, he has faltered. Look no further than the missed penalty in the Champions League final versus Real Madrid and his disappearing act against Portugal in the final of the 2016 European Championship.
Secondly, there is the fact that he might not share space well with Lionel Messi. Both players enjoy wandering and finding spaces in an opponent’s defense before picking up the ball.
How Griezmann would slide into this lineup without causing a disturbance to Messi is something that must be taken into account. While his quality is great, there is a psychological and systematic concern about Griezmann… is buying him worth the risk? A player with his talent and work ethic should be deserving of the risk, regardless of spacing concerns.
Secondly, a name that has continued to be mentioned in transfer rumors is Timo Werner. The RB Leipzig forward is more of a traditional forward who thrives in wonderfully finishing off his team’s attacks.
At only 21 years of age, Werner has consistently shown his quality for two years ending last year’s Bundesliga campaign with 21 goals and leading his side to a shock Champions League spot. READ MORE
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