As reported by Daily Star, Luiz Suarez has opened up about his future as he nears the final phase of his career. The Barcelona man told ESPN, “Given that I have been lucky to have had success at the top level for a long time, what I would look out for [next] is stability for my family and the well-being of my children. They would all make the decision along with me and the United States is a nice possibility.”
Suarez’s departure could create a massive hole in the Barcelona attack. And in this article, we will discuss three potential replacements the Catalans could pursue next summer.
Kylian Mbappe
It doesn’t seem like Paris Saint-Germain will be able to hold onto their key players for long, especially if they fail to cause a stir in Europe in the ongoing campaign. Neymar had already been linked with a return to Barcelona in the summer, and it won’t be surprising to see Kylian Mbappe following suit, next summer.
The Frenchman is regarded as one of the best players in the world and could be an ideal replacement for Suarez at Barcelona. He has the pace as well as the skill to drift past defenders, which would add some much-needed vigour to the Barcelona attack, that has appeared overreliant on ageing stars like Lionel Messi and Suarez in recent years.
However, Mbappe could cost a considerable amount of money, meaning Barcelona will have to offload at least two or even three of their star players if they are to fund a move for the PSG superstar.
Harry Kane
Jose Mourinho’s appointment could significantly increase Tottenham’s hopes of clinging onto Harry Kane. But, those hopes could still be shattered if Barcelona make a push to sign the English international next summer.
Kane has proved himself as a reliable goal-scorer, who has been performing at the highest level of football consistently over the past three years. He is a tailor-made replacement for Suarez, thanks to his incredible work-rate, physical prowess as well as the ability to test the goalkeepers from long range.
Tottenham likely value their forward over the €200 million mark. But, it could be worth it given the quality of the player and the fact that he could be a long-term investment as well.
Timo Werner
Timo Werner is a wild card option for Barcelona. He is the cheapest option on this list and understandably, the least experienced one.
Having said that, the RB Leipzig forward has been performing consistently in the Bundesliga since the club’s promotion back in 2016. He has impressed the onlookers with his pace, tenacity and lethal finishing. As a result, he has made himself a regular name in the German national team teamsheet.
Werner’s addition to the Barcelona attack would make them much more versatile and aggressive, which is quite imperative, as the club has often struggled in dealing with high pressing teams. Werner, in that regard, could turn into a vicious counter-attacking weapon for the Catalans.
