In a recent report, Foot Mercato mentioned that Manchester City have made contact with Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann over a potential move this summer. It is believed that Man City boss Pep Guardiola was on the phone with the France international to discuss a potential switch to the Etihad Stadium in this off-season (via Foot Mercato).
Griezmann’s Outstanding Numbers In Spanish Football
Griezmann had another impressive campaign at the Nou Camp as he banged in a lot of important goals as an influential member of Ronald Koeman’s frontline. The French attacker featured in 51 matches for Barca last season, netting 20 goals and grabbing 13 assists in all competitions.
The 30-year-old gave a good account of himself in the final third after he averaged 2.0 shots, 1.2 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in La Liga. He even interchanged possession with his teammates relatively well in the opposition half, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 87.3% in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).
The Macon-born talent has still got a contract with the Catalan giants until the summer of 2024, so it would take a big-money offer from Man City to convince Barca to part ways with their prized asset during this summer transfer period.
What Will The France International Add To Pep Guardiola’s Side?
Griezmann boasts decent pace under his belt and can make some clever runs in behind the opponent’s backline. He has proven his worth as a clinical goal-getter in the attacking third and can even chip in by picking up his fair share of assists up top.
The French sensation is not afraid to work his socks off when leading the line for his side in the opposition half. However, there are some concerns over whether he can adapt his game to the physicality and high intensity of Premier League football.
At 30, Griezmann would be a short-term solution to Man City’s goal-scoring problems at the Etihad Stadium. Last season, both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus struggled to find consistency with their performances in the final third. Hence, there is no doubt that Griezmann would be an upgrade over them as we can expect him to add plenty of goals and creativity to Pep Guardiola’s frontline for the coming seasons.
The Barca star has also got the winning mindset to help the Mancunian giants maintain their stranglehold in domestic football and even challenge for the UEFA Champions League trophy once again in the upcoming campaign. Hence, Guardiola would be wise to engineer a move to add Griezmann to his squad before the start of the new season.
