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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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FROSINONE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 30: Krzysztof Piatek of Genoa CFC scores the team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Frosinone Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Benito Stirpe on September 30, 2018 in Frosinone, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)
FROSINONE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 30: Krzysztof Piatek of Genoa CFC scores the team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Frosinone Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Benito Stirpe on September 30, 2018 in Frosinone, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) /

Krzysztof Piatek

The Polish striker is making headlines across Europe due to the hot streak he is on. This is his first season for Genoa due to joining from Polish side Cracovia Krakow in the summer. His numbers while in his native country didn’t suggest he was anything special considering the quality of the league, but I Rossoblu seem to have scouted a real talent.

A look at his numbers shows how remarkable the start at his new club has been because he has scored in every game for them so far, which includes seven league matches, and managed four in his competitive debut against Lecce in the Coppa Italia. Piatek is Serie A’s top scorer with nine goals and a total of 13 in all competitions. 75% of their goals in the league have come from him. Unsurprisingly, he is massively overperforming his xG, which is 3.58, because Genoa aren’t the most creative side.

His numbers are a really small sample size and it would be a huge gamble for Barcelona to sign him even if this continues for the rest of the season. He is a player that needs to be monitored over a number of seasons even though that risks another club swooping in and taking him away. A high shot volume of 5.29 per game probably plays a large part in that, so a reduction in that through his tighter marking could have a big effect.

There is no doubting his technical ability because he possesses excellent technique aerially and with his feet as well having that sharp burst of instinctive movement which allows him to evade defenders and create pockets of space as can be seen in his second goal against Sassuolo. Having such a talented and varied finisher alongside Lionel Messi could be a deadly combination, but a larger sample size is needed if this is to become reality.