To say that Luis Vazquez is somewhat different to the last two Argentine strikers Blues signed is an understatement.
Luciano Figueroa and Mauro Zarate both came before Vazquez, who has joined Blues on a three-year contract from Anderlecht for a fee reputedly around £3 million.
That pair were wispy (Figueroa) and brisk (Zarate); both preferred to play off others and find space in and around the penalty area, poacher-types.
Figueroa only lasted six months in 2003, what turned out a two-game punt taken by David Sullivan moreover than Steve Bruce.
Zarate scored four times on loan from Al-Sadd for Blues under Alex McLeish in the 2007/08 Premier League relegation season and was a lively character and finisher.
So, what of Vazquez, Blues latest recruit of the summer?
Well, it is very doubtful he will wither away like Figueroa did in England (although, in fairness, Figueroa went on to have a decent career in Mexico, Spain and his homeland).
Vazquez is not a penalty box predator. He’s not a renowned finisher. And his goals record per se is not prolific.
But what he is, is a combative, physical presence. He is good in the air, relishes duels and is happy to take the ball in and scrap with centre-halves.
The former Boca Junior league and cup winner is quick and athletic, even though he comes in at 6ft 3in tall. He will forage down the channels, he will close opponents down.
Chris Davies hasn’t signed that elusive 20-goal-a-season player. He has signed someone who should add a different dimension to Blues frontline, and help take some pressure and attention off Jay Stansfield and August Priske.
Blues will be more direct in their play this season. They need a focal point. The Oli McBurnie, Kieffer Moore.
Priske isn’t really that player who is a specialist at the physical battles and a target to seek our aerially from the back.
And he is still adjusting to Championship football.
Vazquez has more experience and won’t baulk at the physicality he is about to face. In fact, like a true gaucho, he is relishing it. We all saw how Argentina fought for everything at the World Cup . . .
In his first interview with Blues+, he commented: “I am a player who brings a lot of energy and likes to fight for the club I represent. I am a player who likes to fight for every single ball.”
Vazquez’s addition looks to have thrown a bigger question mark over the future of Marvin Ducksch.
The German is of similar build but is a mercurial touch player who, by his own admission, found it tough to contend with coming up against ‘two metre tall oxen’ every match.
It is reasonable to think that Vazquez has come in to shoulder the burden Ducksch struggled with, and Davies also adds a more nimble, technical number 10 on the assumption that Kanya Fujimoto is still not fancied there.
Priske, who is a mobile runner behind and likes to get on the end of things, should be able to play off Vazquez. And so should Stansfield.
The concern about a lack of goals from Blues new recruit has to be tempered by the fact that – as daft as this may seem – he hasn’t been brought over to weigh in with stacks of them.
Davies wants a bigger, more powerful and varied frontline. All of whom can shift. Options that can complement one another. If you throw in the threats from the wide areas – and how the manager would love to again snare the speedball that goes by the name of Ibrahim Osman – then there are various weapons in the armoury.
Vazquez instead of Ducksch might be more liberating for Stansfield. We shall see.
Davies told bcfc.com: “We’re really pleased to have brought Luis to the club.
“He gives us a different profile in our attacking options and brings qualities that will add another dimension to the squad.
“He has the physicality to compete in the Championship but also possesses excellent technical ability and mobility. He can score different types of goals and gives us another option in the way we can attack teams.”
Vázquez made 118 appearances for Anderlecht after moving from Boca and helped the club finish third in the Jupiler Pro League during the 2023/24 season.
In the following campaign, he scored four goals in 10 Europa League appearances.
In January he joined Getafe on loan in La Liga and helped them to seventh place and Conference League qualification.
