Man 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 goals corer Aguero will leave the club at the end of the season. Guardiola has a plan to bring in a new striker for sometime now.
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. Only prolific Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski has scored more than Haaland’s 21 goals in the Bundesliga this season. 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. In an interview with The Athletic, he told a story of an unnamed player.
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.
Kane’s Tottenham future is the subject of huge debate.
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 Lukaku may be more easily attainable given the financial issues Inter Milan’sare 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.
By Paul Brian