Manchester City Look To Replace Aguero: Who Can Step Up To The Challenge?

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Sheikh Mansour, the deputy prime minister of UAE, purchased Manchester City in 2008.

Ever since then, they have spent countless amounts of money in developing this club.

According to rival fans, Manchester City is the “Oil-Money-Club” because they spend a huge sum of money on players.

Sergio aguero is leaving mancity for free.

City Target haaland and danny ings.

Under Pep Guardiola, especially this season of 20/21, this entire team has rejuvenated.

They are now one of the best football clubs in the entire world. They have scored a whopping 64 goals and have conceded just 21.

These stats are currently 2nd best among the top 5 leagues in the world, right behind PSG.

Dominating every match that they go to.

They are currently on the top of the Premier League with 75 points and have a 14 point gap to Manchester United, who is in second.

Defensive Reinforcements

Pep Guardiola tends to play defensive in most of his games.

His team has spent over $100m just on buying defenders or defensive midfielders these past few seasons.

The recent ones being Ruben Dias from Benfica and Rodri from Atletico Madrid.

Despite having class defenders like Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, City still needs to strengthen their defense.

Ake Joins City From Bournemouth
Man City Sign Nathan Ake as their 2nd defender this season. (Source: ManCity)

Mancity spends more money on defenders than any other club in the Premier League.

Nathan Ake was brought in to be a starter from Bournemouth but hasn’t had the opportunity to get the chance he deserves.

Ake has just started 6 games in total and has contributed just one goal.

Among the recent signings, Ruben Dias was brought in for $80m from Benfica, with Nicolas Otamendi going the other way.

City Signs Ruben Dias From Benfica
City Signs Ruben Dias From Benfica. (Source: BBC UK)

With their recent rise in form and performance, ManCity has only lost one game out of their last thirty-three played in all competitions.

Credit is due where credit is deserved. The partnership between Dias and Stones has been one of the best defensive partnerships in all of the top football flights all across Europe.

If it weren’t for the duo, City would’ve conceded far more goals than the number they have conceded currently.

What Has Happened To Sergio Aguero?

Arguably, one of the best strikers the Premier League has seen over the past few seasons, Sergio Aguero is Manchester City‘s legend.

He joined the club from Atletico Madrid on the 28th of July 2011 for $47.3m. He has remained loyal to the club all these years.

In his 10 years for the club, he has scored 257 goals and has provided 73 assists in a total of 384 competitions.

His main position is a striker/center-forward and has played for different managers like Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and now is playing under Pep-Guardiola.

Aguero and Pep Guardiola
Aguero and Pep Guardiola. (Source: The Indian Express)

Every aging player suffers from injury from time to time due to their age. Sergio suffered from a serious knee injury during the 2019/20 season and has missed a major part of the season.

This season, he recently came out of his injury and has made fourteen appearances scoring just three goals.

Not just injury, this covid affected season even became one of the reasons for him to miss his games. He suffered from the coronavirus and missed 7 matches.

After recovering from the virus, Aguero has just played three games in total, and in which he only played the full 90 minutes against Fulham in a 3-0 win, where he scored his first Premier League goal.

His contract runs out in June of 2021, and due to his age and lack of proper fitness, ManCity is getting nervous about whether they should extend his contract further or not.

Aguero would likely leave the club on Free next season.

Where Will Aguero Go?

Manchester City is unlikely to renew Sergio‘s contract, mostly because of his age and injury-prone.

Numerous clubs are looking to get the signature of the Argentinian.

Since he plays with Messi on the Argentina National Team, many reports arose all over the media about Barcelona looking to bring in the forward to Camp Nou, especially since they require a striker.

With Aguero being friends with Messi, they believed that Messi’s influence and relationship with each other would fit the Barca squad.

Messi and Aguero
Barcelona believes Messi and Aguero’s friendship could be vital for Sergio to join Barcelona. (Source: BleacherReport)

However, it is believed that Sergio wants to stay in the Premier League. Well, certain teams in the league are in desperate need of a brand new attacker.

Teams like Arsenal, Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester United, and Chelsea are on the list of teams who want to land Aguero next season.

Among the clubs mentioned above, Arsenal and West Ham don’t necessarily have the budget to fulfill Aguero’s wage demands. As for Liverpool, it is doubtful that City will sell their player to a direct rival.

Being a City player for over 10 years, we can be sure to say that Sergio will not go to United.

So, the only viable option for him, if he wants to stay in the Premier League, would be Chelsea. They have the necessary money to pay him, even if they increase his salary.

If Aguero Leaves, Who Can Step Up To The Challenge?

The only other striker in the Manchester City squad is the Brazilian youngster Gabriel Jesus. Despite being young, he has proven that he can be the number one striker and bag goals for the team.

Gabriel Jesus
Manchester City’s only available striker: Gabriel Jesus (Source: BleacherReport)

But, his lack of form and consistency is where the problem lies. As a result of this, Pep Guardiola often plays players like Kevin De Bruyne, Ferran Torres, and/or Raheem Sterling as a False-9.

Even though they score many goals, they aren’t playing in their normal position where they are the best at.

Also Read: Man City Domination Continues

So, ManCity is in dire need of an out-and-out striker who can score goals and be the player who will replace their legend, Sergio Aguero.

Among the lists of players who City is looking to sign are; Erling Braut Haaland from Dortmund, Danny Ings from Southampton, Kylian Mbappe from PSG.

Is Haaland The Right Choice?

Erling Braut Haaland is the world’s most sought-after youngster this season, as top clubs from all over the world are looking to land the young Norwegian to their club next season.

The young prodigy has a $75m release clause in his contract, which gets activated from the summer of 2022.

So, most teams are looking to cash in on this right this season, not compete next season.

alf-inge haaland
Erling’s Dad Alf-Inge Haaland playing for Mancity

Among the top clubs, Manchester City has the necessary funds to complete the transaction.

ManCity will have to pay at least $125m to BVB if they want to bring Haaland to the Etihad.

One other reason why City believes that they can land Haaland is that his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, played for the club.

They think they can use this relation to lure Haaland to the club where his father showcased his talents.

Haaland wearing City Kit
Erling Braut Haaland could seal a deal to City.

If Haaland does join the Blue Side of Manchester, then with the right players beside him and the right coach to guide him, he will become even deadlier than the way he is now.

However, since there are many clubs like Bayern Munchen, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and PSG, who are fighting for the signature of Erling, there is little chance for City to sign the young wunderkind.

Danny Ings: The Better Option

As for the other option, Danny Ings can be the better, cheaper option for a striker. The now 28-year-old striker has revived his career after joining the Saints from Liverpool in 2018.

The English striker has now scored 42 goals in just 89 appearances for Southampton in two-and-a-half years.

Looking at the way Southampton has performed over the past two years, Ings’ 42 goals in just 89 appearances is credible.

Danny Ings
Danny Ings would be the perfect striker replacement for Aguero. (Source: SPORTbible)

Sergio Aguero, who is City’s leading goal scorer, is about to end his lustrous career at the Etihad, and Mancity needs someone who can bag them goals for fun and when in need.

Ings would be the perfect, viable, and cheaper option for Pep Guardiola‘s side as he would cost way less than Erling Haaland.

Why Cheaper? Because Ings will enter the last year of contract with the Saints.

However, the Saints are looking to make Danny their highest-paid player and are looking to give him a contract where he will be earning $100k per week.

However, the negotiations have now stalled over his release clause, which is believed to be $20million.

Manchester City does face competition from their English rivals, Tottenham.

The team from London eye Ings as the ‘perfect‘ replacement should Harry Kane leave the club in the summer.

Ally McCoist, who is a Rangers FC and Scotland Legend in his interview with talkSport believe that Ings will score goals ‘for fun’ and will perform better than the strikers currently at the club. 

MAN CITY AND SERGIO AGUERO HAVE DECIDED TO PART WAYS

As of 30th of March, 2021, Manchester City have announced that they will not be renewing the contract of their legendary Argentinian striker, Sergio Aguero.

The news is, however, not so shocking as the future of the striker was in concern as there was no assurance from the club about a new contract.

We all wish Sergio Aguero the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Aaditya Bhatta
Aaditya Bhatta

Aaditya Bhatta

Aaditya Bhatta is a dynamic writer and sports enthusiast, whose passion for both realms is reflected in his work. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, Aaditya brings a unique perspective to his writing, captivating readers with his engaging content.

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