According to a recent report by Marca, Barcelona have decided to turn their attention to AFC Ajax playmaker Dusan Tadic after missing out on Rodrigo Moreno this month.
The same source has also claimed that the Catalans have struggled to come to an agreement with Valencia over a fee for Moreno. Barca have instead decided to focus their attention on landing Tadic, who has been exceptional in the Dutch Eredivisie over the past couple of seasons.
Tadic’s Incredible Form In European Football In Recent Years
The ex-Southampton midfield ace has lit the Dutch top-flight on fire since his move to Ajax in the summer of 2018. He has scored 12 goals and provided 21 assists in 33 appearances for Erik ten Hag’s side this term across all competitions. Tadic has averaged 2.4 shots, 3.7 key passes and 1.3 dribbles per game in the Dutch first division (stats via whoscored).
The 31-year-old managed to help Ajax progress into the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last season. Still, they eventually ended up being knocked out by a last-minute Lucas Moura goal from Tottenham Hotspur. He is also vastly experienced at the international level, having represented Serbia in 67 international matches while scoring 16 goals for his nation in the process.
What Will The Serbian Playmaker Bring To Catalunya?
Tadic has decent pace under his belt and is a very penetrative dribbler with the ball down the wide areas. He possesses the terrific vision needed to open up a rigid defence with a killer pass in the attacking third of the pitch. The former Premier League midfielder has gradually transformed himself into an accomplished finisher in front of goal over the past couple of years.
The recent injury to Luis Suarez, who will be out for four months after undergoing knee surgery, has been a bitter pill to swallow for the Catalans so recruiting a quality playmaker like Tadic will undoubtedly soften the blow of losing the Uruguayan striker for what could be the remainder of this campaign.
Will Tadic Be A Decent Fit For The Spanish Champions?
Tadic along with Carles Perez and Ansu Fati will be able to provide enough support and cover to Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele in the second half of this La Liga season. Quique Setien needs to add more goals and assist to his Barca squad if he wants his players to compete for major trophies come May. All in all, Tadic will be an excellent fit for the Catalan outfit as the Ajax star still has a few years left in his locker to play at a high level.
