Antoine Griezmann has for the best part of three seasons, been the main man for Atletico de Madrid. He has scored a staggering 79 goals in 149 appearances for the Madrid club, a rate better than one in two games. However, interest from clubs like Barcelona and Manchester United virtually prove that he will be leaving the Spanish giants at the end of the transfer window.
Knowing Atletico de Madrid and their scouting system, the management would already have replacements in mind. They have replaced top-class strikers in the past decade or so with unnerving accuracy and success. Fernando Torres with Diego Forlan, Diego Forlan with Sergio Aguero, Sergio Aguero with Falcao, Falcao with Diego Costa, leading to Antoine Griezmann who is just the latest in an unerring machine. While trusting Atletico to make the right choices, we look at five players who might replace the (potentially) outgoing Frenchman in the summer.
Also Read: 10 footballers who were greatly hyped but never lived up to the expectations
While trusting Atletico to make the right choices, we look at five players who might replace the (potentially) outgoing Frenchman in the summer.
#1 Kasper Dolberg
Ajax might be lauded for their academy, but a big part of their success in the Dutch League is their scouting system. Kasper Dolberg is the latest poster boy for the Amsterdam giants.
The youngster has been a revelation this season for Ajax, scoring 17 goals and assisting a further 6, and given he was born in 1997, he makes you question, one what exactly you are doing with your life and two how good he potentially might turn out to be.
As Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp spoke about the Danish youngster, “Who doesn't know Kasper Dolberg? You can't play at Ajax without being noticed, Kasper Dolberg has a very great future. He is a fantastic player.”
His style of game also fits the counter attacking game of Atletico de Madrid, a willing runner, good on the ball and incredibly blond.
#2 Timo Werner
It has effectively been the breakthrough year for the 21-year-old German striker Timo Werner, with 14 goals and 4 assists for RB Leipzig as the somehow challenge Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
He made his debut recently for the World Champions Germany ahead of the likes of Mario Gomez and can play all the three positions in the front three. Given that RB Leipzig plays· a very similar style of football to what Atletico Madrid do, Diego Simeone will be licking his lips at the prospect of having another potentially brilliant youngster under his tutelage.
#3 Angel Correa
While looking for replacements, one often ignores the prospects available at their own club. Angel Correa is that player, signed in 2014 at the age of 19, he has truly come on leaps and bounds under Diego Simeone.
His style of play is exciting, good on the ball, tricky and able to go past his man at will. However, his finest attribute is his first touch, a very important aspect of the game for a forward.
Tata Martino, the ex-Argentina manager, had this to say about the tenacious Argentinean, “Calling him into the squad is very exciting. Sometimes it’s confusing where he’s playing. He’s a player with a half-defined position. I’m not that interested in where he plays. He has the capacity for goals and he’s another option already”.
#4 Alexandre Lacazette
Alexandre Lacazette is one of those players who remain perennially linked to your club, and still elusive at the end (hello, Arsenal fans). The Frenchman has scored 29 goals this season and assisted a further 3, and that is in just 35 appearances for Lyon.
Last season, he scored 23 goals for Lyon and the season before that 29 again, and at this point, you are probably wondering how he is still at Lyon. He somehow is still not in the French national team (well, they have a few options don’t they?).
But, Atletico seem like the perfect club for the Frenchman, fast and brilliant on the break, able to dribble past his opponent and with a brilliant long shot. He is waiting at the window of your favourite shopping mall called the Ligue 1.
#5 Andrea Belotti
Things have gone unnervingly quiet on the English front. In around November, Arsenal were rumoured to be willing to spend a fortune on Andre Belotti, and Arsenal being Arsenal, they’re now looking to somehow hold on to their players with buying a very very distant dream.
Belotti though hasn’t forgotten to do what he does. He has kept banging in the goals and only Lionel Messi has scored more in the League this season. Take a moment to let that sink in. The Italian has scored a staggering 27 goals this season.
…and just for laughs, “If I were to do the clause now, I would put it at €150m. Just compare him to the goals Lionel Messi has scored, yet Belotti is younger so he's worth more” said Torino chairman Urbano Cairo.
