Who Could Replace Sergio Aguero At Manchester City?

It’s less than 48 hours since the announcement by Manchester City that Sergio Aguero will be leaving the club at the end of the season, but already, some names are being touted to replace him. Here’s a few that have already been mentioned.

Kylian Mbappe

The talented French star continues to be linked to English clubs, and will no doubt fall under the City radar. In October Bernardo Silva, Mbappe’s teammate at Monaco, was asked by L’Equip about the possibility of the French striker joining City, to which Silva replied “Kylian Mbappé. He was already a special player at Monaco when I was there, and he’s also a friend. If we could get him, it wouldn’t be bad, eh?”

That sent a flurry of speculation that Mbappe was on his way to the blue half of Manchester and was even posting on Silva’s and Riyad Mahrez’s social media pages. Obviously no transfer materialised, but it is understood Mbappe is reluctant to extend his contract, which expires in 2022.

Erling Haaland

The most obvious name on everyone’s lips right now is the son of former City man Alfie Inge Haaland. The Norwegian youngster has been a beast in front of goal, scoring an incredible 118 carer goals from a total of 160 appearances.

Haaland scored 29 for Red Bull Salzburg in 27 appearances before his move to Borussia Dortmund, where he has bagged and average of one goal per game, hitting 49 from 49 matches. Haaland’s Premier League credentials will be put firmly to the test when City take on Dortmund in the Champions League quarter final next month, and no doubt Pep will monitor the striker very closely.

Harry Kane

With Spurs’ form erratic and the chances of silverware gone for another season, questions are being asked about the future of their star striker, and at 27 years old, time is starting to run out for the England captain to finally get his hands on silverware, having been a runner up n the League Cup and Champions League finals.

The big striker could be just what City need up front, as the team have lacked in recent years. Aguero stood at 5’8” and Gabriel Jesus not much taller at 5’9”, however Kane’s imposing 6’ 2” height could be what City need. Time and again, City have put crosses into the box, only for defenders to easily outjump any attackers, and Kane could be that physical presence City need to put an extra dimension into their play.

Danny Ings

This is a piece of transfer news that is gathering some momentum. The striker spent three years at Bournemouth, before moving to Burnley where he scored 43 goals in 130 appearances, which was enough for Liverpool to splash out £6.5m for him. However, the move to Merseyside didn’t quite pan out the way Ings would have liked, making just 25 appearances and scoring 4 goals, before moving to Southampton.

Ings has thrived on the south coast, knocking in 42 from 92 appearances, but rumours of any transfer have not gone down well with the faithful. However, Ings does have Premier League experience, and can rattle opposing defences, but would his style fit with City’s?

Joao Felix

Felix was linked with City when the striker was at Benfica in 2018. The striker scored 20 goals in 43 matches which prompted the blues interest, however the Portuguese international opted to join Atletico Madrid in 2019. Felix has made 69 apperance for the Spanish side, scoring 19 goals.

At 5’ 11”, Felix has height and strength to cause trouble to Premier League defenders, and at just 21 years old, he could be the ideal striker to take over from City’s departing Argentine.

Liam Delap

One name that hasn’t been mentioned is City’s academy striker Liam Delap. Some may consider the 18-year-old to be nowhere near ready to fill the boots of City’s legendary striker, however the same was said about Phil Foden.

The City midfielder has gone on to star in City’s title charge this season and will only get better, and there’s no reason Delap couldn’t do the same. The way City could potentially manage Delap is to sign a striker such as Ings or Kane, then develop Delap as they have with Foden. It won’t be an instant solution, but one that could come to fruition within a couple of years.

What do you think? Any or a combination of the above or, given the way City have knocked in the goals without a main striker, do we actually need a target man?