The Daily Mail has recently mentioned that Liverpool are among several clubs hoping to recruit Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann this summer. It is believed that Lionel Messi’s decision to stay in Catalonia has put the French attacker’s long-term future at the Nou Camp in doubt which could open the door for the Reds along with Arsenal and Manchester United to acquire his services during this summer transfer window (via The Daily Mail).
Griezmann’s Growing Struggles At The Nou Camp
It was a season filled with frustrations for the Macon-born playmaker as he struggled to find consistency with his contributions in the decisive end of the pitch. Griezmann banged in 15 goals and provided four assists in 48 games for Barca in the previous campaign in all competitions.
The 29-year-old was far from his best last season after he averaged 1.6 shots, 0.9 key passes and 0.6 dribbles per game in La Liga. However, the French international did well to interchange possession with his teammates as evident from his pass completion rate of 81.8% in the Spanish top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Bayern Munich’s 8-2 triumph over the Catalans in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals last month showed just how far the Spanish club have fallen behind the rest of their competition in Europe. The ex-Atletico Madrid star can benefit from a change of scenery this summer as he is currently facing an uncertain future at the Nou Camp. Barcelona are going through a period of transition under their new boss Ronald Koeman, so Griezmann needs to seek a move elsewhere if he wants to win trophies in the upcoming campaign.
What Are The French Playmaker’s Best Attributes?
Griezmann is a deceptively quick attacker who has established himself as one of the best dribblers in Spanish football. He boasts excellent ball control and dribbling ability that allows him to make some intelligent runs towards the opponent’s penalty area. The 78-time French international is proficient at dragging the opposition defenders out of position which creates space for his teammates in the final third. He is a hard-working forward and has transformed himself into a composed finisher in front of goal.
Griezmann tends to score his fair share of goals via headers as he has got a great leap in him that helps him rise above his marker and head the ball in with power and precision. Plus, the underperforming Barca player is highly versatile as he can operate in any role across the frontline. He can fill in on either flank as a winger or play as a centre-forward down the middle if required.
Is Griezmann The Right Fit For The Reds This Summer?
His versatility, coupled with his knack for scoring goals, makes him a worthy target for any top side in Europe including Liverpool. Even though Jurgen Klopp won’t be able to guarantee Griezmann regular game time, yet the lure of playing for the Premier League champions could be tempting for the Frenchman to turn down as he would have a great chance of tasting success next season.
The French striker will provide some serious competition for the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at Anfield. Plus, he would serve as an upgrade over Divock Origi and Rhian Brewster at Merseyside in the coming seasons. With all things considered, Griezmann will be a great fit for the Reds as he would flourish playing under Jurgen Klopp’s stewardship and ticks all the boxes in terms of what Liverpool require at the moment.
