Barcelona are keen to find a replacement for injured frontman Luis Suarez and could make a bid for AS Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder. The Catalans need to sign a striker in the January transfer window, which has resulted in the 29-year-old Frenchman being on their radar.
As per FootMercato, the La Liga giants could make a whopping and mind-boggling bid of €80 million for the experienced striker. Ben Yedder previously played for Sevilla in La Liga, before switching to Monaco ahead of this current season. The Ligue 1 side triggered his €40 million release clause and signed him in August 2019.
He has got off to a flying start, scoring 15 goals and providing 9 assists in 23 games for the club. His contract with Monaco expires in 2024. The French international has played 8 times for his national team, scoring twice.
Wissam Ben Yedder: Is he the player Barcelona need?
Barcelona have been linked with a few strikers in recent weeks, which hints at the club’s eagerness to sign a forward before the close of the transfer window. Suarez’s injury has resulted in Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi playing in central roles, which doesn’t quite suit either player.
They are best when they have a free role from wide areas or as second strikers. The Catalans need a striker who can lead the line, link up well, and most importantly, score loads of goals. Wissam Ben Yedder ticks all the boxes for Barca, as he is a player who can dribble, hold the ball up, link up with midfielders and wide players, as well as score plenty of goals. The Frenchman is a threat on the counter with his pace and dribbling, while he is also a very good finisher.
He may not be the strongest player standing at 5’7″, but he makes up for his lack of size with his quality in other areas of the game. The Frenchman did well for Sevilla, scoring 70 goals in three seasons with the club, and his experience with the Spanish club could allow him to adapt quickly to Barca.
Wissam Ben Yedder is a good player who would do well at Barcelona, but paying €80 million for a player who turns 30 later this year seems like quite a high price. If Barca can bring the asking price down, they should pursue his signing but as with a number of other deals, even this one looks difficult to get over the line with the Ligue 1 club unwilling to part with their prized asset.