Cardiff City are closing in on the capture of Nantes striker Emiliano Sala, it has been reported.
The Premier League new boys are keen to add more strength to their attack this month, and are set to smash their club record fee to land this Argentine forward.
Sala could reportedly cost around £18 million according to Sky Sports. Here’s a SWOT analysis of the forward:
Strengths
Sala is a clever operator who knows exactly where to position himself in and around the 18-yard box and more often than not, finds himself at the end of a scoring opportunity.
The 28-year-old is an excellent finisher, having scored 12 goals in just 18 league games so far. But, what makes him such a sought-after striker in European football is his impressive physique.
Standing at 187cm, Sala is often a scourge for the opposition defenders while it’s perhaps needless to say that it also serves him well in terms of aerial duels. He has won 2.3 headed duels per game this season.
Sala’s aerial prowess combined with his clever positioning has made one of the most deadly attackers in Europe this season.
Weaknesses
Lack of pace is perhaps the biggest flaw in Sala’s overall game, with the Argentine often lacking the speed to make himself a prominent outlet on the counter-attacks.
Furthermore, the 28-year-old also tends to take too much time on the ball, allowing the defenders to get rid of the danger.
It’s also worth mentioning that Sala is not a tactically astute nor a versatile striker, making him, more or less, a one-dimensional forward.
Opportunities
Cardiff City’s attackers haven’t been able to find the back of the net consistently this season. Therefore, Sala shouldn’t find it difficult to get regular playing time this season.
Sala’s aerial prowess would definitely serve Cardiff pretty well considering Neil Warnock’s preferred style of play, which often focuses on having a strong striker up top. Thus, it can be assumed that Cardiff’s game would revolve around the 28-year-old.
Threats
Sala’s lack of pace combined with his lack of composure on the ball might eventually become a big problem in the English top flight.
Furthermore, the Argentine is a late bloomer, who struggled to make a breakthrough for the most part of his career. Therefore, making the transition to the fast-paced Premier League will be difficult to cope with.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored