In a recent report, the Express and Star stated that Aston Villa have set their sights on Atletico Madrid forward Luis Suarez who is set to become a free agent this summer. It is understood that the Villans are eyeing a move for the Uruguay international as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.
Suarez’s Inconsistent Campaign In Spanish Football
The 35-year-old has experienced an up and down season at the Wanda Metropolitano as he struggled to score goals consistently at the highest level. Suarez has found the back of the net on 13 occasions and registered three assists in 45 appearances for the Spanish outfit during this campaign in all competitions.
The Salto-born talent has failed to perform at a high level because he has averaged 1.5 shots and 0.4 key passes per game in La Liga. He was also a bit sloppy when distributing possession in the opponent’s half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 73.7% in the top tier of Spanish football (stats via whoscored).
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Is Suarez A Good Option For Aston Villa Boss Steven Gerrard?
Suarez is an experienced forward who can still score some important goals in the final third. However, he struggles to contribute in other ways and can often be marked out of the game by the opposition defenders.
Still, someone of Suarez’s experience and winning attitude will be a terrific acquisition for the Villans in this off-season. We can expect the South American marksman to add a lot of quality to Steven Gerrard‘s frontline. He could even serve as an ideal replacement for Danny Ings who has struggled to be consistent with his performances at Villa Park during the recently concluded Premier League campaign.
All in all, Suarez has got the skillset to help Aston Villa secure a top-half finish and maybe even challenge for a domestic trophy over the next few years. At 35, the Uruguayan might still have a couple of seasons left in him to play at a good level which makes him a decent, short-term option for the West Midlands club. Hence, Gerrard should think about recruiting him when he becomes a free agent later this year.
