Who should Manchester City replace Sergio Aguero with?

[Firebat]

Sergio Aguero is one of the greatest strikers in Premier League history, no doubt about it. The 4th highest EPL goal scorer ever is going to certainly going to leave a big hole in the Man City team. Who do you think is big enough to fill it?

There are a few options that mainly spring to mind:

- Erling Braut Haaland - The hottest and most destructive young striker in world football. Doesn't need an introduction.

- Harry Kane - Phenomenal goal scoring record, has been carrying his Tottenham team for so long, and always seem destined for a move to the elite level. This could be his chance.

- Romelu Lukaku - Re-established his standing as one of the world's premier strikers since moving to Inter Milan, phenomenal record.

- Lautaro Martinez - Lukaku's strike partner in an Inter Milan about to dethrone Juventus. 14 league goals in 27 appearances, 23 years old, one of the best young strikers in the world and the best is yet to come.

Perhaps even Kylian Mbappe could be on the table, but that seems unlikely.

Another option could be to just stick with what they have, and not go in for a pricey big name like-for-like replacement. Aguero has been largely absent due to injuries this season; 1 goal in 8 EPL appearances, 2 goals in 5 UCL appearances.

Yet, Pep has adapted quite brilliantly, even without a recognised striker in many of the games. He's tweaked systems and managed to not only survive, but thrive with the likes of Foden, Torres, De Bruyne, Jesus taking up many of Aguero's forward positions. Has it worked? Man City are currently in the UCL quarter finals and 14 points clear at the top of the league. Maybe they don't even need a big name replacement.

What do you guys think?

 

[Saj]

Has to be Haaland.

He would be lethal in the Man City side.

 

[MenInG]

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is targeting Erling Braut Haaland as Sergio Aguero's replacement - but there are other options if he misses out on the Norwegian, and they include England skipper Harry Kane.

On Monday it was announced City's record goalscorer Aguero will leave the club at the end of the season.

Guardiola has had a plan to bring in a new striker for some time now, which meant Aguero was likely to have even less playing time than he has had recently.

The finality over the Argentine's future does leave City clear to pursue replacements. And no matter who they eventually sign, it will be one of the biggest deals of the summer.

It is no surprise 20-year-old Haaland is at the top of Guardiola's wish-list.

The Norway and Borussia Dortmund forward has become the most coveted young number nine in Europe through his sheer weight of goals and he will be looking to add to his tally against City in their Champions League quarter-final.

Only prolific Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has scored more than Haaland's 21 goals in the Bundesliga this season, while earlier this month he reached 20 Champions League goals in only 14 appearances.

However, signing Haaland is not straightforward. His controversial agent Mino Raiola seemed to be suggesting the striker would be on the move this summer when in a recent interview with the Athletic, he told a story of an unnamed player who, together with his parents, decided to stay with his club despite interest from elsewhere.

The player then suffered two ligament injuries, which virtually ended his career. "Sometimes football is a train that passes by," he said. "You can say 'let's take the next train'. But sometimes the next train doesn't come."

Yet there are reasons why a transfer in the summer of 2022 would make more sense.

Haaland's Dortmund contract does not expire until 2024, although it is thought to contain a release clause of 75m euros (£64m) that can be activated next year. In addition, financial constraints around Barcelona and Real Madrid are likely to take two of the most attractive potential destinations out of the equation this summer.

Still, if Haaland does leave, Chelsea and Manchester United will want to be kept abreast of developments and there are no guarantees City is where he will end up, even though his dad, Alfie, played for them.

In an interview with BBC sports editor Dan Roan in February, Raiola said: "Only a maximum of 10 clubs can afford to buy [Haaland] and give the platform you would like after you've been in Dortmund… and four of those clubs are in [England]."

Kane's Tottenham future is the subject of huge debate.

Spurs seem to have gone backwards under Jose Mourinho and, at 27, time is running out for the England captain to win the game's major prizes.

However, Tottenham play City in the EFL Cup Final at Wembley on 25 April and although they will start as outsiders, they could at least end that 13-year wait for a major trophy.

As with Haaland, Kane's contract does not expire until 2024.

Former Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku may be more easily attainable given the financial issues Inter Milan's Chinese parent company Suning are wrestling with.

Lukaku's club colleague Lautaro Martinez has also been mentioned as a target, although he is not a number nine in the conventional sense.

It is less than five months since Guardiola signed a new City contract that will keep him with the Blues until 2023.

When Guardiola's new deal was announced, City were halfway in the Premier League and it was anticipated a major rebuild would be required.

Wind the clock forward and City are now 14 points clear at the top of the table and talk is intensifying over an unprecedented quadruple.

Guardiola has found a winning formula that does not even need a main striker and the strength of his squad appears beyond the scope of any rival, either domestic or in Europe.

But the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has an insatiable drive for perfection. Despite the presence of Kevin de Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling, he is actively looking at creative options, which is why Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish's name keeps cropping up.

Some of the steam seems to have gone out of links with Lionel Messi now the Barcelona presidential elections have brought some calm to the Nou Camp and on Wednesday Spanish newspaper Sport said it was "case closed" on the Argentine moving to City.

But around the time of Guardiola's contract extension announcement, there was massive speculation over the pair being reunited and a further plan for Messi to be used later in his career across the wider City Football Group.

There was foundation to the stories, so it cannot be completely discounted he remains part of the bigger picture.

Left-back remains an issue, although Joao Cancelo's stunning form in the unique role that combines a full-back's defensive duties with those of a midfield pivot, has lessened the urgency of that search, while at the same time raising question marks over Benjamin Mendy's continued presence at the club.

Aguero to a Premier League rival?

Despite the injury problems that have dogged him this term, Aguero feels he can still play at a high level, so he is not intent on returning to Argentina just yet.

It is also known he has not ruled out moving to another Premier League club, as implausible as it may seem given his legacy at City is so great the club have already agreed to commission a statue of him.

So, while Barcelona is a possibility, along with Juventus, Inter and Paris St-Germain, it will be interesting to see whether any loose talk of interest from Chelsea and Liverpool develops into anything concrete, or even Manchester United given the uncertainty over Edinson Cavani's future.

BBC

 

[sweep_shot]

I vote for Harry Kane.

 

[PetroDollars]

they should go for Kane, pep will end haalands career like he did to ibrahimovic, pep is usally clueless on how to play no.9s, he made both aguero and lewandoski worse.

Kane will suit him better as someone who can drop into MF

 

[Mamoon]

Haaland is very likely to end up at Barcelona.

Man City should go all out for Kane. It is the perfect marriage for both parties - Man City get an elite PL battle-hardened striker with leadership qualities in his prime and Kane finally gets the opportunity to win the trophies that he deserves.

He will be 28 this summer; he will push hard for a move if he has any semblance of ambition.

 

[Mesozoic]

Robert Lewandowksi.


I know he's in his 30s but he has good 2-3 years left in him and City desperately needs someone like him to finally get the Champions League monkey off their backs forever.

 

[OMB]

Kane wouldn't be an automatic choice given that TM wants to focus around Jesus. Kane likes to take his shot at every meagre opportunity which may not suit Man city style of building up chances.
Haaland is a good bet.

 

[Firebat]

Man City unlikely to buy Sergio Aguero replacement this summer - Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said the club are unlikely to buy a striker this summer to replace the outgoing Sergio Aguero.

City confirmed on Monday that Aguero, 32, will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Guardiola has been looking at options, with Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland, 20, at the top of the list of potential targets.

However, Guardiola feels the fees currently being quoted are too high.

"I don't know what is going to happen but at these prices we are not going to buy any striker," he said.

"It's impossible. We cannot afford it. All the clubs are struggling financially, us as well.

"Today there is more chance we will not buy a striker next season."

Dortmund are reported to want at least 150m euros (£128m) for Norway international Haaland, whose agent Mino Raiola has met with Barcelona and Real Madrid about a move.

Haaland's current deal expires in 2024, though it is thought to contain a release clause of 75m euros (£64m) that can be activated next year.

England captain Harry Kane is another possible option for City, though his Tottenham contract also does not expire until 2024.

Aguero, who signed from Atletico Madrid in 2011, is City's record goalscorer, with 257 goals in 384 appearances for the club.

He famously scored the injury-time winner against QPR in 2012 which clinched the club's first English title in 44 years, and has since helped City win three more Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five League Cups.

Guardiola said it is "impossible" that City could replace the Argentine with someone who would replicate his achievements.

"We know how important he is in present and past, these decisions are never easy," he said.

"Maybe we are going to find a new player to replace him but in terms of numbers? Impossible.

"In terms of what he means? Impossible."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56614329

 

[Firebat]

Looks like Pep is pleased with how his team have dominated the league this year with Jesus or mostly without a recognised #9 and decided he'd like to carry that tactic forward.

 

[Hasan123]

Harry Kane if they can afford him.

 

[OMB]

Looks like Pep is pleased with how his team have dominated the league this year with Jesus or mostly without a recognised #9 and decided he'd like to carry that tactic forward.

Exactly, whoever comes has to compliment Jesus and match Man city gameplay.

 

[Saj]

I think Pep could be bluffing here regarding Haaland by saying they haven't got the money to buy him. Perhaps a move to get the price down a bit or catch his rivals off guard.

 

[Firebat]

Pep Guardiola: Manchester City boss says the club 'definitely' need to sign a striker

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says the club "definitely" need to sign a striker despite being top of the Premier League while rarely picking anyone in a traditional striker's role.

City have played without a recognised striker for most of the season, having lost Sergio Aguero in the summer.

The club also failed in an attempt to sign Tottenham's Harry Kane.

"I think the club needs a striker, definitely," said Guardiola, speaking before Sunday's Manchester derby.

"You say we play fantastically well without a striker because we are winning. When we are not winning, you say we need a striker."

The club's all-time top scorer Aguero, who scored 260 goals in all competitions for City, left to join Barcelona on a free transfer in July 2021.

Gabriel Jesus, who plays up front for Brazil, has been used more often as a winger by Guardiola this season.

Spain striker Ferran Torres played several games as a centre-forward earlier in the campaign, scoring twice against Arsenal in August, before signing for Barcelona in January.

Last month, Guardiola revealed that Spurs rejected four bids for Kane last summer, with City eventually signing his England team-mate Jack Grealish for a British record £100m instead.

City also bought Argentina international forward Julian Alvarez in January before loaning him immediately back to River Plate - the 22-year-old has scored 39 times in 100 club appearances.

And they also came close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo before his switch to rivals Manchester United who they face on Sunday (kick-off 1630 GMT).

The absence of a traditional centre-forward has led to City's Spanish manager using the likes of Phil Foden, Raheem Sterling and Grealish to fill the role.

Despite this perceived weakness, only Liverpool have scored more than City's 64 league goals in 27 games this season.

Sterling is the club's top scorer in the Premier League with 10 goals.

City sit three points ahead of Liverpool, before facing United at Etihad Stadium looking for a first home win over their bitter rivals in four games.

Still referring to comments from the press, Guardiola added: "[You say] 'how do these guys play without a striker? In the Premier League you have to play with a striker'.

"So, we need a striker, I think the club is going to try."

In demand Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland, 21, has been strongly linked with City and could be one target in the summer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60634426

 

[Firebat]

Decided to play this season without an Aguero replacement and Pep seems to be regretting it.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Pep will not buy a striker. It goes against his philosophy despite it being to the detriment of the team