[ad_1]
On June 30, Sergio Aguero’s iconic spell with Manchester City is set to end with the Argentine in the final five months of his contract.
After arriving from Atletico Madrid ten years ago, Aguero became the club’s top scorer and the signing of £ 35million is widely regarded as the club’s best endeavor in its modern history.
After delivering their first Premier League title to City with this goal in 2012, Aguero established himself as a club legend with his 256 strikes in all competitions, helping City earn plenty of silver along the way.
Manchester City will look to sign long-term successor to Sergio Aguero this summer
But now, as injuries get the better of him and time is not on his side, it now appears to be the end of the road for Aguero at the Etihad with the club unlikely to renew his contract. .
Pep Guardiola can no longer fully rely on the Argentine talisman, who has been sidelined for most of this season due to injury and illness, and will look to find his long-term successor this summer.
Gabriel Jesus struggled to fill those huge boots, with Guardiola planning to move the Brazilian to the wing and bring in another striker ready to match Aguero’s scoring exploits.
But who are the contenders to take Aguero’s throne from City? Sports messaging look at the options …
Pep Guardiola (left) can no longer count on the club’s top scorer due to persistent injuries
Romelu Lukaku
Club: Inter Milan
Value: £ 94m
After leaving Manchester for Milan in 2019, it looks like Romelu Lukaku could be on his way back to the North West of England.
The Belgian striker left United under a cloud after failing to reach Old Trafford.
After falling out with Jose Mourinho and rarely playing for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Lukaku was sold to Inter Milan for £ 72million and has now become one of the most complete strikers under Antonio’s tutelage Tale.
Romelu Lukaku has become a more complete striker under Conte’s tutelage at Inter Milan
An astonishing record of 54 goals in 78 games for the Italian team is proof enough of its reliability and its place as one of the few traditional world-class No.9s.
Under Conte, Lukaku figures as one of two forwards in a 3-1-4-2 formation that sees him take advantage of full-backs playing further forward and giving him crosses.
At United, he appeared on his own as a central figure in a three and led the line with two wingers by his side. While he hasn’t faltered, he hasn’t really blossomed either and has often been criticized for his impact when wearing red in Manchester.
However, if he follows in Carlos Tevez’s footsteps and decides to join rivals United, then he will have the chance to prove his critics wrong.
After leaving Man United under a cloud, Lukaku could follow in Tevez’s footsteps and join City
After polishing his entire game in Italy, Lukaku could be the big presence Guardiola was looking for.
A return to Manchester would see him join his fifth Premier League club and give him the chance to add to his impressive 113 goals in the English top flight.
It will be debated whether Lukaku can adapt again in a 4-3-3 system, which Guardiola insists on deploying.
But with the wealth of attacking options at his side, the Belgian striker could be the last piece of City’s attacking puzzle.
Erling Haaland
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Value: £ 100m
After breaking onto the scene with Red Bull Salzburg and tearing him apart at Borussia Dortmund, Erling Haaland is wanted by the European elite and is arguably the best young player in the world at the moment.
The Norwegian international’s meteoric rise for Dortmund last year rightly earned him the 2020 Golden Boy Award and he has incredibly scored 66 goals in 60 appearances since the start of last season.
Making a hat-trick as a substitute on his Bundesliga debut is the material dreams are made of and the towering striker would certainly be a dream catch for City this summer.
Golden boy Erling Haaland (pictured) tops City’s wishlist when it comes to replacing Aguero
After breaking onto the scene with Salzburg, Haaland scored a hat-trick on his Dortmund debut
The 20-year-old is lightning fast and has that sixth sense of the moment to get into the box, while his finishing abilities are only rivaled by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as is.
His bulky body and strength on the ball would see him adapt to the Premier League with no problem and feel right at home at the Etihad, given his father Alf-Inge made 41 appearances for City between 2000 and 2003.
Chelsea and United are also reportedly interested in signing Haaland, but City are said to be willing to offer Haaland a salary of £ 400,000 a week in an attempt to blow their rivals out of the water.
Haaland is definitely the luxury buy on this list, given his age, abilities and guaranteed goals, so it will take a lot of money to persuade Dortmund to part ways with their crown jewel.
Danny ings
Club: Southampton
Value: £ 18m
Maybe a surprise inclusion, but it’s fair to say that Danny Ings has finally got his feet back after sustaining back-to-back injuries in years past.
Having started with Bournemouth over a decade ago, Ings moved to Burnley in 2011 where he would make a name for himself before Liverpool knocked him down four years later.
Unfortunately for the Englishman it just didn’t work out at Anfield due to a series of injuries and he was then sent on loan to Southampton before completing a permanent move to the south coast in 2019 as part of ‘a £ 20million deal.
After recovering from a disappointing spell in Merseyside, Ings continued to prove his worth in the English top flight, where he scored 25 goals in all competitions last season and added seven more to that total in 19 games. this season.
Southampton striker Danny Ings could be a viable option if City choose not to splash
A proven Premier League striker would be very attractive to Guardiola and already faces competition from Tottenham in the race for his signing.
Ings currently has just under 18 months on his current contract and the 28-year-old is currently refusing to sign a new deal in hopes of securing Champions League football next season.
City can certainly deliver that, but the former Reds center-forward may not be City’s first choice when it comes to replacing Aguero.
However, an English international would also occupy a local place in this post-Brexit world.
Lautaro Martinez
Club: Inter Milan
Value: £ 98m
Should City fail in their attempts to draw Lukaku away from Inter, they could try their luck with striking partner Lautaro Martinez.
Like Lukaku and Haaland, City would have to break the bank to land the Argentinean, who would have a £ 98million buyout clause in his contract, given his age and rating in world football.
After making a £ 22million transfer from Racing Club in 2018, Martinez has formed a deadly partnership with Lukaku and has caught Barcelona’s attention over the past year.
His 42 goals in 114 appearances for Inter are not to be laughed at and he currently has 15 goals (10 goals, five assists) in 21 Serie A appearances this season.
Inter Milan star Lautaro Martinez is often compared to compatriot Aguero and is wanted
Martinez has been hailed as ‘spectacular’ by compatriot Lionel Messi, with the overwhelming approval causing Europe’s biggest clubs to rise up and take notice.
His strength, movement and finish make Martinez a veritable handful of defense against which he was seen as Luis Suarez’s long-term successor at Camp Nou.
Now, with Barcelona’s finances decimated by the pandemic, City could rise to the top of potential suitors looking to take on the Argentina international.
There are undoubtedly several similarities between Aguero and Martinez, which could put the 23-year-old in a good position when it comes to who Guardiola wants to lead his attack.
Darwin Nunez
Club: Benfica
Value: £ 22m
Like Ings, Benfica’s Darwin Nunez would be the cheapest alternative if they had a hard time chasing Lukaku, Haaland and Martinez.
The 21-year-old has been linked with a move to the Etihad since November and is seen as a raw, but exciting, talent in Portugal where he currently has 10 goals in 28 appearances for Benfica this season.
After leaving his homeland of Uruguay to join Almeria in 2019, Nunez became the club’s record signing Benfica after parting from £ 21million to sign him on the Spanish side of the Segunda division.
And the La Liga Nos squad know exactly what kind of talent they have in their hands, considering they tried to tie him to a five-year contract last summer.
Darwin Nunez, 21, Benfica record holder, would be a bet given his lack of experience
However, while he clearly has a lot of talent, the Uruguayan forward has a lack of experience in Europe and would prove to be a real bet if City made the move for him this summer.
At 6-1 / 1, Nunez has already been compared to compatriots like Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani and looks set to take over from the veteran duo once they step down from international duties.
Nunez would truly be an investment signing and his capture would free up funds in other areas for City.
Source link
