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Barcelona: 5 potential long-term replacements for Luis Suarez

By Benjamin Barkworth

07 October 2018, Saxony, Leipzig: 07 October 2018, Germany, Leipzig: Soccer: Bundesliga, Matchday 7: RB Leipzig vs 1. FC Nuremberg in the Red Bull Arena Leipzig. Leipzig's player Timo Werner celebrates the 4-0 goal. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTICE: DFL an d DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video. (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images)
07 October 2018, Saxony, Leipzig: 07 October 2018, Germany, Leipzig: Soccer: Bundesliga, Matchday 7: RB Leipzig vs 1. FC Nuremberg in the Red Bull Arena Leipzig. Leipzig's player Timo Werner celebrates the 4-0 goal. Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTICE: DFL an d DFB regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video. (Photo by Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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SEVILLE, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Andre Silva of Sevilla FC in action during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and RC Celta de Vigo at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on October 7, 2018 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN – OCTOBER 07: Andre Silva of Sevilla FC in action during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and RC Celta de Vigo at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on October 7, 2018 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images) /

Andre Silva

His first season in Spain has started in blistering fashion with seven goals in eight league games to propel Sevilla up to the top of the table. Pablo Machin’s counter-attacking 3-5-2 system suits him because it ensures he isn’t isolated and he can play on the last line of defence and exploit the space behind. The use of Pablo Sarabia in a central midfield role means there are three runners when they transition quickly, which worked perfectly in the 3-0 win over Real Madrid.

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He was disappointing last season at AC Milan as he only scored 10 goals across all competitions and he didn’t score his first home goal in the league until March. I Rossoneri had major ball progression issues under Vincenzo Montella, though, so Silva rarely saw the ball with this only marginally improving under Gennaro Gattuso, but he was never fully trusted by the fiery Italian manager with Patrick Cutrone favoured. His shots per game have increased from 1.5 at Milan to 2.8 at Sevilla in their respective leagues, per WhoScored, which means he is much more involved as well as receiving the ball in the right areas.

The issues at Milan were systemic rather than being simply an inability for him to adjust to their possession-based approach. Barcelona control most games in terms of territory and possession, so consistent service wouldn’t be an issue that the Portuguese striker would have to deal with.

Luis Suarez often plays with his back to goal so that the forwards and midfielders can combine with him to draw defenders in and create lanes to advance into or cause the defence to narrow which opens up space on the wings. Silva could fill this role as seen by the fact that he averages 1.1 key passes from 22 per game with a total of 77.3% accuracy for Sevilla, per WhoScored and has an xA (expected assists) of 1.41, per Understat.

The main issue would be whether he is willing to move on again after Sevilla placed their faith in him when he had failed to live up to expectations elsewhere. He is on loan to Los Hispalenses but they have the option to sign him permanently for €35 million. It would be beneficial for Barcelona to make enquiries at the very least because he is a clinical finisher while also possessing the attributes to be involved in complicated passages of play in the final third.