Barcelona finally identify long-awaited Neymar replacement

Barcelona have long sought to replace Neymar’s blatant absence on the wing and it seems they have found their man at last.

‘The death of a great man demands the birth of a great son.’ A poignant and powerful message delivered by Ernest Agyemang Yeboah in his acclaimed novel Religion Philosphy and Life. It is a proverb which bodes well to describe the current situation of Barcelona since the departure of their supreme winger Neymar.

Neymar, of course, did not pass away but he had abandoned the wings of the Nou Camp to don his colours for the navy blue and red of Paris. And the Brazilian was indeed a great man, an astonishing figure who marvelled and sparked the Catalans to life.

In his absence, Barcelona have struggled to recapture the form which made them such a formidable force in Europe. Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho were desperate attempts at replacing the great man and neither succeeded in stepping into Neymar’s burden laden shoes. Dembele and Coutinho made dwindling attempts at replacing the greatness of Neymar and Barcelona now stand at a crossroads.

More from FC Barcelona

• Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with Barcelona
• Barcelona put five past Real Betis
• Xavi backs struggling Robert Lewandowski
• Gavi youngest Barcelona player to reach 100 games
• Barcelona struggle but pull out win against Osasuna

In the summer, the Catalans considered replacing their great man with the great man himself and tried to lure Neymar back to the Nou Camp, but that effort was fruitless and the Brazilian opted to stay in France.

Now the Catalans must set their sights elsewhere. They must seek to find someone of the ilk of Neymar. A tricky pacy winger, able to twist and turn defenders effortlessly and conjure up magical passes for his team-mates.

Just as well that there happens to be someone in that exact mould playing in the colour of yellow and black in Germany.

Jadon Sancho has set the world alight since his arrival in the industrial city of Dortmund from Manchester City in the summer of 2017. Sancho has fought his way to become one of the biggest teenage sensations in Europe.

He has caught the eye with dazzling performances and now stands at the pinnacle of Dortmund’s monetary assets.

The black and yellows have sold eagerly in the past and there is no suggestion they will be insistent on Sancho remaining at the club in the chance of a hefty offer for the England international.

Having impressed against the Catalan outfit earlier this year in the Champions League group stages, it is no surprise that Don Ballon now claim that Barcelona have set their sights on the English winger to add him to their latest crop of mercurial talent looking to conquer the world.

Barcelona will be aware that Dortmund will be willing to listen to offers and Sancho would be the perfect man to provide an injection into the Catalans’ lack of creativity from the wing. Sancho is reminiscent of Neymar in his style of play. He posses the same speed, the same trickery and the ability to bamboozle defenders with unexpected tricks and clever dribbles.

The Englishman would fit in well at the Catalans and linking up with Messi, Griezmann and Suarez, they could form a quarter which would finally deliver the long-sought Champions League title back to the Nou Camp at last.

Who do you think Barcelona will sign to replace Neymar?