Immediately after the 2016 Euros, Manchester United were linked with Antoine Griezmann.
I couldn't believe it. First Pogba, and then Griezmann! My pulse quickened as I imagined this happening. This was the stuff of dreams. I contemplated lowering my zipper and sneaking one off while on the train, but no! I would wait until I was home and my girlfriend asleep or perhaps to wait when this tranfer happened.
I'm glad I waited as time has given me a clearer perspective. Almost a year after that rumour started, my excitement is gone. Like the morning after a wet dream, I want to recreate that feeling of euphoria but it is permanently lost. I've moved on. Then it was Griezmann, but now, right now and finally, Lacazette is the only one for me.
Lacazette is cut from the same cloth as the top strikers at the top European clubs. His profile is somewhere in the class of Lewandowski, Benzema and Louis Saha. Yes - you read that right. But I will come back to this.
These group of strikers are first and foremost "number 9s". They score goals. May I point out that the debate on wether Griezmann is a striker in the hole or a wide forward is not one that Manchester United can afford the time to find out.
When the new season kicks off, we want to have round pegs in round holes. See the debate on wether Pogba is a number 10 or 8, or if he can play in a 2-man midfield.
Quite frankly, I believe Manchester United should tailor their recruitment to their actual footballing needs - goals, and should avoid signing a posterboy for marketing.
For those who dont know, Lacazette has scored 31 league goals this season compared to 17 from Griezmann, and in less appearances too. Even concerning is that Griezmann rarely scores more than 1 goal a game. Do Manchester United really want to play out more 1-1 or 1-0 results?
Considering that Lacazette is a year younger and valued somewhere around the £45 million mark, while Griezmann would cost £80 million, signing Lacazette is a no brainer.
Remember United's last number 9 of Guadeloupian origin? Louis Saha. There is a similarity in his style that Lacazette has. The ability to play in a packed box, hold-up play, tidy dribbles, Power and simple layoffs - some of these qualities are the main staples of the likes of Lewandoski and Benzema.
I fervently hope that we avoid what I believe is a mistake by signing Griezmann instead of Lacazette. Our club needs to go back to getting the best bang out of the same buck.
Signing Lacazette instead of Griezmann gives us a striker who fits better, the football style the club thrived on. Finally, of the players such as Bellotti, Griezmann and Lukaku, we've been linked to, Lacazette has the lowest price but the most league goals scored. Bargain or not?
. We've obviously talked to him. I think he was aware of the questions and this is part of the game. It's disrespectful to the fans and the supporters but they reason it away. He could have said, he's heard nothing or it's in the hands of his agent. Look at how the player celebrates! He's a player and he's just having a bit of fun. Look how after xmas he was starting to 'get irritated' and now he's relaxed....it's all a show not to let the cat out the bad so soon and during a big period for his club. I would assume he did them a favour staying another year. That's just the feeling I get because he had a chance to say - if the coach stays I stay and he didn't....he didn't even given them a 10. He gave them a 7.