While many expected Philippe Coutinho to be Barcelona’s choice as Neymar’s replacement, Ousmane Dembele is actually the better choice.
If we are to believe the reports today, Ousmane Dembele will be a Barcelona player shortly. FC Barcelona fans around the world can now exhale.
After a trying couple of months, assuming things go as they seem, Barca have finally gotten (one of) their man (or men). Whether it was the incessant tracking of Philippe Coutinho, the yes-and-no nature of the Jean Michael Seri chase or the hacking that led some to believe Angel di Maria would be a Barca player, fans who have grown tired can rest a bit.
For now, we’ll consider the chase to have come down between Coutinho and Dembele. They’ve been subject to similar offers and similar defiance from their current clubs. While Liverpool said they would sell at no price, Dortmund simply explained that the offer was not high enough for someone of Dembele’s quality.
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Rather than paying what felt like double what Coutinho was worth, Barcelona have spent wisely (remember the Neymar money, nobody would let their star go for under €100 million) on the present and future.
Coutinho seemed a like-for-like replacement. Brazilian with magic feet, scoring ability and experience playing off the left. He and Neymar are the same age, and, funny enough, very close friends. Many thought the allure of Barcelona had a lot to do with playing with Neymar.
Instead, it would be to replace him, although the future may see him as Andres Iniesta’s replacement instead. He wants to leave Liverpool, but with the signing of Dembele and Liverpool’s strong stance, it seems increasingly unlikely. Don’t rule it out, but don’t expect it.
In any event, that’s a good situation, because Dembele is actually the better replacement for Neymar. He’s five years younger than Coutinho. He can play any position across the front four as, in an interview recently, he didn’t know which foot was his strongest—he’s capable with both.
Whereas Coutinho may be more proven only by experience, Dembele stacks up in terms of statistical comparison (via Squawka.com).
- Coutinho in the Premier League last season:
- 2,229 minutes, 13 goals, 7 assists, 65 chances created
- Dembele in the Bundesliga
- 2,037 minutes, 6 goals, 12 assists, 63 chances created
Dembele bested Coutinho from a creative standpoint (something Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi will appreciate as they did with Neymar) in slightly less time. As for the goals, consider this: Coutinho took nearly twice as many shots as Dembele last season.
Surely with the likes of Suarez and Messi, Dembele will see plenty of opportunities in front of goal and convert at the level at which Coutinho does, or a better one.
While Coutinho possesses quickness, Dembele has the raw pace that Neymar displayed over his time at Barcelona. That alone separates them in terms of similarities. If Ernesto Valverde intended on using Neymar as Luis Enrique did, Dembele presents a better option in that role than Coutinho.
Next: Barcelona's Champions League Draw
There is still a week left of transfer silly season. That leaves a week for more signings to be sorted out. However, if this reported coup of Dembele is true, Barcelona have finally taken a step in the right direction. It doesn’t make them better than Real Madrid today, but it’s a start.