Ideally, Manchester City would have had a direct, in-house replacement for Julian Alvarez.
However, City seem to primarily produce either technically gifted players in other areas of the pitch.
As a result, neither of James McAtee, Oscar Bobb, Nico O’Reilly or Rico Lewis can be classed as a striker.
However, Pep Guardiola claimed that McAtee could play up front in Erling Haaland’s absence, as well as Phil Foden and Ilkay Gundogan.
So far, Guardiola’s men have won both their league outings against Chelsea and Ipswich Town despite Foden, Rodri, John Stones and Kyle Walker yet to start a single game.
But the season has just started and how they cope in Haaland’s potential absence cannot be concluded so early into the campaign.
If Matheus Nunes leaves Man City, club could bolster different position
Furthermore, like any club, Manchester City tend to sell players before bringing fresh faces in.
As a result, the Sky Blues will only deem the sale of a player necessary if they realise the importance of replacing Alvarez.
But as things stand, City seem unlikely to sign Kyogo Furuhashi and Orri Oskarsson this summer; two strikers who were on their transfer wish list.
With the summer transfer window set to shut on Friday, the Premier League champions will have to make a swift decision about their need for another number nine before it becomes too late.
A report by The Athletic has claimed that in August, City narrowed their search for a new striker down to Furuhashi and Oskarsson but shortly after, they placed Gundogan’s signing as their top priority.
By the middle of the week, it has been reported that Manchester City’s interest in a brand-new understudy to Haaland had “cooled down”, with Pep Guardiola wondering if his side even needed another marksman alongside the Norwegian.
However, if Matheus Nunes departs the club, his potential exit could lead to a change in their outlook.
It has been reported that Atletico Madrid are keen to sign Nunes on a season-long loan.
- Who is Matheus Nunes? Get to know the midfielder
Nunes exit on loan or permanently should not alter Man City approach
If the £130,000-a-week man departs City, either on loan or permanently, either outcome should not dictate City’s view towards signing a striker.
The addition of a number nine would help Manchester City manage Haaland’s minutes, regardless of if Nunes were to stay at the club — considering he did not seem set to operate as even a makeshift striker in any case.
Furthermore, if the £54 million man were to leave the Sky Blues, the Premier League champions should potentially consider making a move for a natural defensive midfielder to serve as a deputy for Rodri.
Nunes’ exit would open the door for an anchor in the middle of the park to potentially have more of a chance of getting minutes in a City side that barely has any wiggle room in their midfield department.
It will be interesting to see whether Manchester City make a late surge for a striker in the event of the former Wolves midfielder’s departure.
Whether the name in question is either Furuhashi or Oskarsson, or a fresh face would also make for an intriguing development regardless.
