We’re only two weeks into 2018 but to say our transfer business has been underwhelming is the biggest understatement of the year. The players are frustrated, the fans even more so and the board seem ignorant to it all. For some, Theo Walcott opting for Allardyce’s Toffees over a fairytale return to St Mary’s has been the final straw and hope seems to be at an all-time low. This has led to a percentage of fans writing off potential signings before we even open talks with them.
However, one player who has been ever-present in our transfer targets this window has been Monaco striker Guido Carillo. The Argentine has struggled for game time over the last couple of seasons with Falcao’s return to form and the incredible rise of Kylian Mbappé in the last 18 months, so it’s understandable that a change of scenery could be on the cards. Pellegrino has worked with the forward before at Estudiantes and multiple sources are linking us to a deal for the forward in the next few weeks.
Carrillo stands at 6’3″ and is a renowned targetman in Ligue 1. Though a record of 4 goals in 20 appearances in the league and UCL this season may sound disappointing, he’s been used as a substitute in 17 of these games. In the 3 games the forward has started, he has actually netted twice. Only managing 2 more in his 17 substitute appearances has majorly watered down his ratio on the face of things, however with regular gametime over a struggling Shane Long and a potentially departing Gabbiadini, there’s every reason why Carrillo could show shades of prime Pellè when it comes to finding the net.
Another factor to consider when judging the impact a signing like Carrillo can have is to assess how he can help the players directly around him. It’s no coincidence that Dušan Tadić has sorely missed a big man up front to swing balls in to, and Carrillo may be the answer to that as neither Long, Gabbiadini or Austin offer the presence of a true out-and-out target man.
Despite having individual qualities, Pellegrino’s inability to get the most out of his players has forced us to consider a more route one approach, and the answer to our woes may just come in the form of Guido Carrillo.
Data Sources: @lequipe @TeleFootball @WhoScored