Barcelona have reportedly identified Eintracht Frankfurt striker Andre Silva as an alternative to transfer target Sergio Aguero before the summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication El Gol Digital, La Liga giants Barcelona have expressed interest in signing Portuguese striker from Eintracht Frankfurt, Andre Silva, in the summer transfer window.
It’s no secret that Barcelona are on the hunt for a new No.9 before next season. After letting Luis Suarez leave for rival Atletico Madrid, the Catalans found themselves with only Martin Braithwaite as the only natural center-forward option, which was not convincing enough.
As a result, manager Ronald Koeman had to use Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann in the center. And while the Barcelona skipper continues to perform admirably despite being 33, it is imperative that the club tackle the issue head-on this summer if they are to avoid relying too much on their captain.
Barcelona: a gargantuan club in crisis
To that end, Barcelona have identified Manchester City’s all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero as a transfer target. Given that he will be a free agent at the end of the season and has a lot of experience, the Argentine becomes a viable target for the Catalans. But, his recent injury toll remains a cause for concern.
In addition, Aguero’s agent is said to have demanded a € 10million signing bonus. Given Barcelona’s current financial situation, they are reluctant to accommodate such demands, which makes sense given Aguero’s age and the salaries he will receive.
As a result, alternatives are being worked out and one of them, according to the report, is Andre Silva of Eintracht Frankfurt. After bursting onto the scene with Portuguese giants FC Porto, the center-forward secured a top-level transfer to AC Milan but suffered a frustrating spell in Italy.
After an interim loan spell with Sevilla, the 25-year-old signed for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019, initially on loan before making the transfer permanent last summer. Silva has since been in searing form, plundering 22 goals and 7 assists in 26 games in all competitions, helping the team climb into the Bundesliga’s top four surprise.
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Silva’s rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed with Premier League giants Manchester United seeing him as a potential transfer target for the summer as they look to bolster their offensive unit. And now the Portugal international has also appeared on Barcelona radars.
The report claim Barcelona see the 25-year-old as the closest replacement to Luis Suarez due to his awareness of his position, strength and ability to pin down opposition defenders. Besides Silva, Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette and Lyon’s Memphis Depay are also under consideration at the moment.
It now remains to be seen whether Barcelona react to their declared interest in Silva or whether they continue their pursuit of Sergio Aguero at the end of the season.