Catalan giants Barcelona are having a year to forget as they failed to win the league last season and have lost one of their most important players in Neymar Jr to PSG earlier this summer. They have been actively looking for replacements for the Brazilian star and seem to have finally landed one in Ousmane Dembele.
The La Liga outfit were looking at the likes of Philippe Coutinho and Paulo Dybala as other options but Barcelona finally completed a deal for the French star that will see him play in Spain for the rest of the season.
It is understood that Dembele will join Barcelona on a five-year deal that will cost the club £138m, making him the second most expensive player in the history of the sport, after Neymar Jr. So, can Dembele actually replace Neymar?
Having made a name for himself in the previous season with the German giants Borussia Dortmund, Dembele put in a stellar performance for the French national side in the off-season and has established himself as one of the most exciting stars in world football at the moment.
With exceptional dribbling abilities that most defenders hate to face, the 20-year old is known for his finishing and ability to create chances consistently in the final third. With a high percentage of key passes to his name every game, Dembele is also a specialist in dead-ball situations and will surely be a productive addition to Barcelona.
He can dribble past opponents to put in a cross or cut in to make some space with equal ease and is a natural winger, who is probably the closest option available in the current transfer market to replace Neymar at Camp Nou.
He is ambipedal, taking penalties with his right and hitting stinging shots with his left and is an exciting player who will surely add some spirit to a Barcelona side that is currently in the doldrums.
Even at 20, he is already ready for the challenges at the highest level and though Dortmund was a decent place for him to work on his skills, Camp Nou will be an even better one. Playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, receiving balls from the likes of Andres Iniesta will surely help him turn into a better player and within no time, he can easily replace Neymar completely.
He has little exposure to La Liga and may take time to adjust to the conditions in the country but in due time, he will make Barcelona fans forget about the many moments Neymar has given them over the years. Could Barcelona have found a better like-for-like replacement for Neymar before this deadline day?
