ISL 2017/18: 5 players who can replace Dimitar Berbatov at Kerala Blasters

Dimitar Berbatov is one of the most well-known strikers in Europe. He is mostly recognized for his time with English clubs like Tottenham Hotspurs and Manchester United, where he won the Premier League three times. He has also been the Bulgarian player of the year a record seven times, thereby overtaking the legendary Hristo Stoichkov in the process.

These days, the talismanic striker plies his trade in the Indian Super League at the Kerala Blasters. However, with the star underperforming, Blasters might be keen to get a replacement for him before the transfer window closes on tomorrow.

We take a look at five viable replacements:

#1 Mirko Vucinic

Former Juventus star Vucinic

Vucinic started his senior career in Montenegro with Sutjeska Niksic. However, only after a handful of appearances, he moved to the Italian club, Lecce. He spent six years in Lecce featuring over 100 times before he moved to Roma.

His stint in Roma was arguably the purple patch in his career where he managed to score 46 times in 147 appearances. He then moved to Juventus in 2011. Vucinic made 75 appearances for the Old Lady in his three-year stint there. However, more often than not, his role was restricted to that of a substitute.

Then in 2014, he moved to the UAE outfit Al Jazira, where he scored 27 goals in just 29 appearances. Over the course of his career, he has managed to rack up over 45 appearances for his national side as well. Currently a free agent, the 34-year-old will certainly bring a great deal of experience to the Blasters.

#2 Thiago Ribeiro

Brazilian forward Thiago

The Brazilian has spent most of his playing career in his native Brazil. He has had a few stints in France with Bordeaux and with Cagliari and Bahia in Italy. He made his professional debut for the Brazilian club Rio Branco SP.

Thereafter, he was loaned out to Bordeaux. However, it was in Sao Paulo FC where he started getting much more joy, thereby scoring seven goals in his 40 appearances there.He last played for Santos in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. The 31-year-old is a free agent since the turn of the year and still only 31, he might have a lot to offer to the Blasters.

#3 Marouane Chamakh

Former Arsenal forward Marouane Chamakh

Born in France to Moroccan parents, he is mostly known for his time with the English giants Arsenal FC where he spent 3 years and made 40 odd appearances. Thereafter, he moved on to the likes of Crystal Palace and Cardiff City. However, Chamakh certainly enjoyed his best time with Bordeaux in France, where he made 230 appearances and scored 56 times.

It was his impressive performances with Bordeaux that earned him the move to the Gunners in the first place. Tthe forward has also made 62 appearances for Morocco, finding the net 17 times. Having last featured for Cardiff City, he is currently a free agent and might just be the kind of replacement that Kerala Blasters need for Berbatov.

#4 Carlton Cole

Cole started his career at Chelsea

The tall striker, born in England, began his professional career with Chelsea back in 2001. He made 25 appearances for the Blues in his five years there before moving on to West Ham United. He was very successful for the Hammers, managing to find the net 55 times in over 250 appearances.

Cole has also featured 7 times for the England national team. He then went on to play for Celtic and Sacramento Republic. He last played for the Indonesian club Persib Bandung back in 2017. He is currently a free agent and might just be the perfect candidate to replace Berbatov.

#5 Victor Anichebe

At 29, Anichebe will be a steal for Kerala

Born in Nigeria, he made his professional debut for Everton in the Premier League. He ended up making over 130 appearances for the Toffees in his seven-year stay there. He then went on to play for West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland before moving to China.

Anichebe last featured for the Chinese side Beijing Enterprises. He has also made 11 appearances for the Nigerian national team. He has been a free agent since the turn of the year. Still only 29 years old, he certainly has a lot of football left in him and maybe he is just what the Blasters need.