Is it better to buy players from Spain or France?

France – Ligue 1

Newcastle’s success in France has brought the market back to the Premier League’s attention. Ten years ago it was THE place for Premier League clubs to go shopping but inflated prices and an emptying of the talent pool saw it go off the radar. However, there’s plenty of quality to be found;

Strengths Athleticism. This unit is big, quick and strong. They would be disciplined and well organised as well as very difficult to break down.

Weakness Attack. Only Hazard really stands out as an attacking force for this unit. The midfield can grab the odd goal but there is an overall flair deficiency. The could roll over teams but unlocking the door on a tight defence could be difficult for them.

How would they play? They would have to use their athletic advantage and just fly relentlessly forward at teams. They would press high to recover the ball quickly and put the opposition under pressure. They would be devastating on the counter.

Advantage of buying from France Price. Only Hazard was 8 digits here. Because the market went so cold after it was emptied 5-6 years ago the clubs haven’t made the money they used to on selling to England. Now is the time to strike and Newcastle were ahead of the curve on that.

Disadvantage of buying from France It is difficult to find flair and goals in France to match the value. Arsenal have tried buying both but the players have flopped in England. It isn’t somewhere that a Michu type has been found lately. The abundance of athletic players who can adapt quickly to the Premier League are much easier to find.