In a recent report, The Athletic (subscription required) mentioned that Aston Villa are hoping to land former Liverpool forward Luis Suarez. It has been claimed that the Villans are showing interest in recruiting the Uruguay international this summer.
Suarez’s Unimpressive Form In Spanish Football
Suarez has endured a tough season at the Wanda Metropolitano but still managed to impress by putting in a few productive displays while acting as the focal point of Atletico’s attack. The Salto-born talent is about to become a free agent later this year which could open the door for the Villans to sign him.
The experienced striker has scored 13 times and grabbed three assists in 45 matches for the Madrid club this season on all fronts. However, Suarez has struggled to give a good account of himself in the final third as he is averaging 1.5 shots, 0.4 key passes and 0.2 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga.
He has also been a bit untidy with his ball distribution after making 73.7% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
The 4th Official uses images provided by the following image agency:
Getty Images (https://www.gettyimages.de/)
Imago Images (https://www.imago-images.de/)
Is Suarez A Good Choice For Aston Villa?
Suarez is still proficient at finding space for himself to get a few shots in on target. He can be a decent finisher in the final third when he is playing well on the field.
The 132-time Uruguay international usually operates as a centre-forward but is versatile enough to fill in as a winger on either flank if needed. However, father time is catching up with his game which explains why he struggled to impress during his time with Atletico this year.
A forward of Suarez’s experience and winning mentality could help the Villans push for a European spot in the Premier League next season. At 35, he might still have a couple of seasons left in him to play at a high level.
Thus, Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard should think about bringing Suarez to Villa Park when he becomes a free agent later this summer. However, he won’t be a long-term fix to the Midlands club’s goal-scoring problems. Still, the pros outweigh the cons of signing Suarez which makes him a decent choice for Gerrard to pursue in the coming weeks.
