Time for Manchester City to Start Shopping for Sergio Aguero’s Replacement?

Sergio Aguero has been a key player for Manchester City since joining the club back in 2011. The fact that he now proudly wears the crown as the club’s all-time top goal scorer says it all. His legendary status at the Etihad Stadium is already cast in stone. The Argentine has been central to City’s success for the better part of the last decade.

But his days on the throne as the main man are coming to an end. If not by choice but as a natural consequence of ageing. The goalmouth assassin is now 32. With frequent injuries requiring considerable time on the treatment table, the time to search for a competent replacement is now.

Gabriel Jesus was brought in back in 2017 to provide the necessary cover and possibly step into Aguero’s legendary shoes. But although the Brazilian has shown he can also stand up to be counted, he is still short of the level required. His 14 goals in 34 Premier League matches last term speak of a player still a step behind top class strikers. Aguero outscored him despite playing 10 games less.

Manchester City deserves better.

Besides, the 23-year-old cannot be the only one leading the line at the Etihad Stadium. As seen in the case with Vincent Kompany, there will be a need to replace Aguero when the Argentine leaves. Reports are linking the 32-year-old with a move to Inter Milan at the expiration of his contract with City next summer.

The man himself has long expressed a desire to return to boyhood club Independiente. That leaves City with the need to prepare for life without him. The time to start shopping for a capable replacement is now.

Erling Haaland fits the bill.

Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images

Three players look set to rule the game in the next decade. Kylian Mbappe, Jadon Sancho and Haaland. The Frenchman is linked with a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid. Manchester United will most likely return for Sancho after failing to price him away from Borussia Dortmund in the last transfer window. City can opt for Haaland to fill the void Aguero will leave behind.

The Leeds-born goal-poacher has a unique history or tie with the Blues. His father once played for City and will definitely be pleased to see his son follow in his footsteps. Aged just 20, he fits the profile for the club’s transfer targets.

His numbers are impressive. And for a player on the rise, he will be a contender for the Ballon d’Or at some point in the next decade provided he keeps improving. His first hat trick for his country over the weekend as Norway faced Romania is a signal of greater things to come. He has netted six goals already in three Nations League appearances.

With 51 strikes across all competitions for club and country in his last 48 games, he compares favourably to monsters Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. He also represents the next generation of goal machines like Robert Lewandowski. That makes him an asset any top team looking to do big things in the next decade should consider signing.

Who more than City needs such a player? Aguero’s departure will leave the team with a huge void to fill upfront in order to fulfill our ambition of finally conquering (and dominating) Europe in the years to come. It took Chelsea eight years after Roman Abramovic’s take over to secure a European crown. It’s been 12 years and counting already for City.