Unlike in years previous, the tabloid headlines for the club have been very much about players to improve the squad depth, and about our defence. Given the Suarez saga had the potential to flare up, it is surprising to have not heard about players who could replace him. Here is my low-down on some obvious and not-so-obvious choices to replace him, and some other young talents worth mentioning and taking a look at long-term.
Premier League Options
Suarez finished second on the goal-scoring charts, but notable mentions in the top 25 top scorers that we could look at include C Benteke, Michu, R Lukaku, E Dzeko and C Tevez. Benteke will command a big fee, but has many years ahead in the top flight. Michu may not fit the age constraints for a high-value transfer so he could be discounted. Similarly Dzeko and Tevez may be of similar vein. Lukaku heading back to Chelsea may halt our chances in signing him. More obscure options include S Long, A Weimann and L Remy. All three would command similar price-tags to Allen and Borini, but with Premier League experience, they would settle quickly, and have impressed the media and fans alike.
Other Options in the UK
G Hooper and J Russell are the better of the Scottish Leagues talents. Russell is cheap and therefore almost a riskless option. No Suarez replacement, but great potential there to hone. J Rhodes and C Austin could prove to be worth assessing from the Championship. Not least because neither are PL bound with a transfer now.
Options from Top European Leagues
Looking at France, PE Aubameyang looks to be of highest value. Y Ben Yedder, Y Belhanda and A Ayew have had good seasons, and of reasonable age. Ayew's teammate J Ayew could be a reasonable alternative. The German league will attract all the more attention now the CL Final advertised the quality of the style of play and talent. R Lewandowski has attracted the most attention but is very unlikely. S Kiessling, Son Heung-Min and A Schurrle have reputations that precede them. Having not seen much of either leagues, these are the options that spring to mind.
The third league competing for the 3rd best league in the coefficient charts is Italy. Ironically, 3rd alphabetically after France and Germany too. E Cavani is arguably the best choice that springs to mind over any other. Goals galore, physical, proficient with both feet and in the air, and playing for a team that is still establishing itself as a regular challenger. A chance to play in the PL could be a turn-on. His price tag, could prove a turn-off. My priority choice would be S Jovetic. Less physical, but more trickery. Has the ability to play out wise as well as up top, or as a second striker. Fiorentina being unable to offer CL football may mean his transfer is very viable. And at a decent price if the £25m price-tag is to be believed. S El Shaarawy, Erik Lamela, A Ljajic and L Muriel are some of the other top-rated high scoring youngsters this year.
In the league defined by Messi and Ronaldo, supplemented by the recent mover Falcao, other options that spring immediately to mind are few and far between. Both Soldado and Negredo are the wrong side of 27. G Higuain is available at the right price. Maybe a swap deal would convince FSG to sign him at 26. Imanol Agirretxe, I Aspas, T Hemed and A Griezmann are
the higher scorers of a good age. Ironically, one is already looking to be on his way.
Further Afield
P Hosiner has stolen the show in Austria for a few years now. Maybe we take the gamble? Similarly, J Vossen has a terrific record in Belgium for Genk of better than 1 in 2. At 24, he could be an astute choice if we choose to sign a couple of players/if we look for an expensive winger as well. A Cornelius has impressed in Denmark with a great return for a 20yr old. Some great Scandinavian strikers over the years should mean we do have a bried look here for players too. S Athanasiadis has done well in Greece for PAOK.
The Dutch League is always a risky place, but Kuyt and Suarez should do enough to persuade any onlooker we know our talent here. W Bony has stolen the headlines. 31 goals. 46 in 65 for Vitesse. 22 in 59 for his previous club Sparta Prague. No more needs to be said. J Altidore, D Mertens, J Lens, G Wijnaldum and L Castaignos are some notable options besides Bony, but I think W Bony is clearly a talent that a PL team should look to gamble on (if gamble is the word).
The Portuguese League is another talent hub. J Martinez leads the charts, and with Hulk and J Rodriguez recent successes, we may not need to look much further. Van Wolfswinkel is Norwich bound (surprisingly), so the more obscure names beyond that seem risky. R Rusescu has done well in Romania. A Dzagoev, K Honda and L Traore have all been linked with moves in the press. Hulk may be of similar ilk in time. With B Yilmaz the wrong side of 27 as well, M Sow may prove to be the likelier option from Turkey, even if neither are younger than Suarez. H Mkhitaryan would arguably be one of the worthiest risks the club could take. A huge reputation at such an age but intested outside of the Ukraine.
