Willian Jose could easily have been at Tottenham Hotspur today. The Brazilian was constantly linked with a move to the North London giants in January, but a move didn’t go through. While that would have been disappointing, the striker’s situation could prove one thing. Good things come to those who wait.
Perhaps, that is why Barcelona are now interested in Willian Jose. While the €70 million price tag is certainly a let-down that even got Spurs away from the player, it isn’t about the price-tag. It is about the quality that the player brings to the table for Barcelona. And he could be a very useful signing for them.
Currently 28, Willian Jose has racked up eight goals in 22 La Liga games this season. In the 2016-17 season, he got 12 goals and got 15 goals in the 2017-18 season. The Brazilian striker racked up 12 last season too- a sign that this a goalscorer who can get around 15 goals every season.
This season, Jose has underperformed on his XG for the first time. It has come by 0.21, but he has overperformed in every single season for La Real in the past. One season of underperformance would not prove that he’s a bad player at all. Indeed, Willian Jose is a very proven finisher.
Willian Jose has taken 2.64 shots per 90 minutes and that does contribute to a low goalscoring tally. That number has always been quite the same over the years. It could be proof of the fact that in a side that creates more chances, he could score more. And the consistency in numbers shows that.
He isn’t the best dribbler and neither is he the best passer in the final third. He has completed only 0.1 dribbles per game this season, coming up with only 0.5 key passes per game. Both of them have been the lowest over the years. Last season, his key passes tally stood at 1.2 and he completed 0.6 dribbles per game.
It shows that he isn’t the flashiest of strikers. But he’s a clinical finisher who thrives on getting at the end of passes and scoring goals. With Harry Kane injured, that is what Spurs needed.
Barca though, had Kevin Prince-Boateng on loan from Sassuolo last season. The reason for that was clear. They wanted a back-up striker who could score vital goals off the bench and be as a second-choice to Luis Suarez. While the former Fiorentina man didn’t do much, but there is still a need for a proper target-man like Willian Jose himself.
Luis Suarez isn’t getting any younger. His recent injury can keep him out for the rest of the season depending on how the recovery goes. In his absence, the club could have done with a striker like the Brazilian. Ousmane Dembele is also out, meaning they’re short of options in that department.
In Willian Jose’s case, his valuation is a problem. The club can’t shell out big money for a striker who may only play half the time that Suarez plays. The money Real Sociedad want for their striker is fit for a regular striker and the Catalans should only go for him if they want one.
His quality though, can’t be in question. He has scored goals on a consistent basis. He’s done enough to deserve a step-up and there is every chance he scores even more goals for a better team.
