What’s Next For Barcelona? 6 Potential Neymar Replacements

MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 01: Antoine Griezmann (R) of Atletico de Madrid competes for the ball with Gerard Pique (L) of FC Barcelona during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Estadio Vicente Calderon on February 1, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 01: Antoine Griezmann (R) of Atletico de Madrid competes for the ball with Gerard Pique (L) of FC Barcelona during the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Estadio Vicente Calderon on February 1, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
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MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 12: Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid celebrates with team mate Fernando Torres after scoring the opening goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Leicester City at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 12, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 12: Antoine Griezmann of Atletico Madrid celebrates with team mate Fernando Torres after scoring the opening goal of the game during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final first leg match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Leicester City at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 12, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann’s goal record since joining Atletico Madrid in all competitions over past three seasons, respectively: 25, 32, 26. All that while playing a counter-attacking style under Diego Simeone. The amount of goals he could score or assist playing alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez is mouth-watering.

At 26 years old, Griezmann is entering the peak of his footballing career. This is the kind of player that Barcelona should be targeting to replace Neymar as he will contribute at the highest level straight from the jump. Suarez and Messi have both turned 30, rendering the decisions Barcelona make this month with the Neymar money are of utmost importance.

This transfer would be tricky. Atleti aren’t Real, but they do fancy themselves a direct rival to Barcelona. Plus, there’s the pesky situation of Atletico’s transfer ban. If they sell Griezmann, they can’t replace him until January. There isn’t really an amount of money that would make that okay. What good is £100million if you can’t buy anyone with it?

Speaking on Barcelona’s potential interest in Griezmann, Simeone had this to say, via Express: “Interest in Griezmann? It’s good for us that the best clubs want to sign our players.”

Doesn’t appear that Simeone is much worried.