Barcelona consider Timo Werner as potential successor to Luis Suárez

Leipzig's German forward Timo Werner celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich in Leipzig, eastern Germany on March 18, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)
Leipzig's German forward Timo Werner celebrates scoring during the German first division Bundesliga football match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich in Leipzig, eastern Germany on March 18, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / ROBERT MICHAEL / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT + 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read ROBERT MICHAEL/AFP/Getty Images)

Barcelona are scouting forwards in the World Cup

Leipzig’s German forward Timo Werner (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg football match RB Leipzig vs Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the RB arena in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 5, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / dpa / Sebastian Kahnert / Germany OUT (Photo credit should read SEBASTIAN KAHNERT/AFP/Getty Images)
Leipzig’s German forward Timo Werner (R) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg football match RB Leipzig vs Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the RB arena in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on April 5, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / dpa / Sebastian Kahnert / Germany OUT (Photo credit should read SEBASTIAN KAHNERT/AFP/Getty Images)

Last season, Luis Suárez looked off his game and showed signs of decline, despite scoring 31 goals and providing 15 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions. ‘El Pistolero’ is not the player he was a couple of years ago, and needs a successor.

Paco Alcácer hasn’t done the needful to get himself in the equation for the club’s future number nine. And after the club’s failure to sign Antoine Griezmann, it is looking into other options, and has found the perfect alternative to the Frenchman, Timo Werner.

The 22-year old German goal-machine made 45 appearances for RB Leipzig, scoring 21 goals and providing 9 assists. Werner has also become the first-choice centre-forward in the German national team.

More from Everything Barca

He was lacklustre in Germany’s 1-0 defeat against Mexico in the first round of fixtures of the World Cup. But that does not change the fact that Werner has a lot of potential and can become one of the best forwards in the world, and also that there is a long way to go in the World Cup.

Timo Werner and Luis Suárez have a lot of similarities, and even in their weakness. They are both physical players who are not afraid of taking a blow, they are brilliant finishers and have poor offside awareness.

But signing him will not be easily. Ever since Werner led Leipzig to a runners-up position in the Bundesliga, the top clubs in Europe, most notably Liverpool, have been monitoring his progress. Barcelona will have to come up with a big offer in order to sign him.

Next: Jordi Alba dismisses exit rumours

But he will still be less expensive than Antoine Griezmann, and certainly than the other options like Mohamed Salah.