Atlanta United are reportedly in negotiations to sign Uzbekistan international striker Eldor Shomurodov from AS Roma.
The Five Stripes are looking to add to their attacking unit as Shomurodov would join Jamal Thiare and Daniel Rios to make up the striker department at the Eastern Conference club. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed Tuesday morning that Atlanta are in talks to sign the 29-year-old and he could be the next target man to lead Atlanta as they eye a playoff push.
As Shomurodov has been utilized as a striker throughout his career in the Russian Premier League and Serie A, there’s a good chance we won’t see him out on the wing or anywhere but up top in Atlanta. That means that there’s a couple of ways interim boss Rob Valentino could deploy the veteran forward in his side in a bid to propel Atlanta up the Eastern Conference standings.
Should Valentino stick with his preferred 4-3-3 system, then it seems rather certain that Shomurodov would slot in as the team’s main striker in between the two wingers in the final third. Xande Silva and Saba Lobjanidze would more than likely start on either side of Shomurodov, but the likes of Edwin Mosquera and Tyler Wolff could also get minutes here and there.
During the Gonzalo Pineda days, Atlanta typically lined up in a 4-2-3-1. With Miranchuk set to make his debut within the next month, the Five Stripes could revert back to that system with a natural No. 10 back in the mix — meaning Miranchuk could supply Shomurodov with plenty of through-balls and threaded passes to create scoring chances.
Potential lineups
Silva, Shomurodov, Lobjanidze ( 4-3-3 )
Silva, Shomurodov, Mosquera ( 4-3-3 )
Miranchuk; Silva, Shomurodov, Lobjanidze ( 4-2-3-1 )
While Atlanta don’t typically lineup in more defensive and rigid systems like a 4-4-2 or 5-3-2, Valentino could shift to one of the above formations late on in a match or if he wants to switch things up to have two focal points up front.
Both formations allow Atlanta to have either Rios or Thiare up front and center alongside Shomurodov — which could prove to be difficult for opposing defenses to keep under wraps with a player like Miranchuk pulling the strings from deep.
Potential lineups
Thiare, Shomurodov ( 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 )
Rios, Shomurodov ( 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 )
Miranchuk, Shomurodov ( 5-3-2 or 4-4-2 )
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