TRANSFER STORY
According to a report on talkSPORT, Manchester City along with Barcelona, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Serie A sensation Krzysztof Piatek who is rated at £30m by the club.
The player has been scouted by the four clubs and on the basis of his statistics this season, the feedback must have been terrific till now.
MORE ON THE PLAYER
Krzysztof Piatek is a Polish international who plays as a No.9. He started his senior club career playing for Zagłębie Lubin in 2014 before making a move to Polish side Cracovia in 2016. He scored 32 league goals in 65 appearances thus attracting the attention of a number of clubs.
Following his goalscoring exploits, he then joined Serie A club Genoa, signing a 4-year contract in 2018. He has taken to his new elevated surroundings like a duck to water. The 23-year old is currently on 13 goals from 9 games and is unsurprisingly on a number of team’s scouting list.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Piatek’s efficiency in front of goal is his strongest forte. In an impressive bit of statistic, the nine goals he has scored in the league so far, he has not required more than three touches on the ball on any occasion. The player has stated his admiration of Pippo Inzhagi, and it seems to have had a very positive impact on his gameplay. The way he creates space for himself inside the box without much complication is also identical to a certain Harry Kane, and that bodes well in the event of a move to England.
His aerial prowess is also something which puts him ahead of a number of budding strikers in Europe. Also, his ability to hold on to the ball attracts fouls in and around the box resulting in promising set-piece situations for his team.
While the Polish striker has a lot going for him, his passing is something which needs to be worked on. With more and more top teams opting for an inclusive gameplan with the forward expected to be the first line of defence, someone like Piatek’s work-rate or the lack of it can be a deterrent. His defensive contributions are also not something to write home about, and the player needs to certainly work on these aspects if he is to become a more polished product.
MANCHESTER CITY’S INTEREST AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD MAKE A MOVE
The English champions have begun the season on an excellent note and are top of the table on goal difference with Chelsea and Liverpool tied on points with them. While City haven’t exploded yet, they have had significant contributions from almost all the players on different occasions which have been enough to get the points on board.
The Sky Blues have traditionally boasted of a quartet of strikers in seasons before Pep but the Catalan genius has got the job done handsomely with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. While the demands of Pep has seen Aguero reach an altogether different level, there have been concerns regarding Jesus’s growth as a footballer since his move.
The Brazilian threatened to dethrone Aguero in his initial months before the Argentine moved up a couple of gears leaving Gabriel far behind in the pecking order. City have midfielders who are prolific in front of goal but a season as the last one should not be expected time and again.
Someone like Piatek, in that case, can certainly be a wily addition. At 23 years of age, he will fit right in with the other rising stars of the club. Aguero is 30 and will be at the club till 2021. The jury is still out on Jesus’s goalscoring ability and whether he can shoulder the burden as Sergio has been doing for almost a decade.
Piatek has goals in him and has the advantage of height which is severely lacking across City’s forward line. With crossers such as Walker and Mendy, a striker with an ability to outjump defenders and score the occasional header will undoubtedly add another dimension to their much-vaunted attack.
Yes, he is a work in progress, but under someone like Pep, he might find the perfect environment to develop and be his best version in the coming years.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
