Manchester City are keeping a close eye on three talented forwards ahead of 2025 and that doesn’t even include Rodrygo.
It’s been a quiet year on the transfer front for Manchester City with Pep Guardiola only adding three new players to his squad and one of them won’t even arrive until January.
Claudio Echeverri was signed and then immediately loaned back to River Plate in this year’s winter window while Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan arrived in the summer.
They’re the only signings City have made in 2024 but business is bound to pick up in 2025.
A lot of City’s star players are now ageing, the injury to Rodri has exposed the need for more midfield reinforcements and Julian Alvarez hasn’t been replaced.
City broke their biggest sale record when they sold Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for upwards of £86m in the summer but didn’t move to bring in another forward.
That leaves the club extremely light on central attacking options, with Erling Haaland the club’s only natural striker.
If he gets injured the Blues will be in trouble but it’s a problem they’re likely to rectify in 2025.
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Man City like the look of three German forwards
Naturally, City get linked with an endless array of players regardless of whether the transfer window is actually open or not.
An attacker the club has been heavily touted with an interest in recently is Real Madrid star Rodrygo.
Though City have taken a look at him, GRV Media’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey says there are three names higher up the list.
“He’s one [Rodrygo] who they knew about before, I don’t see him being top of City’s list, to be honest,” Bailey said.
“I think there are a few other options. [Karim] Adeyemi of Dortmund, City are one of three clubs, along with Arsenal and Liverpool, who’ve been asked to keep informed of his situation.
“So players like that. I think there are a couple of players who are on City’s radar. And another German, Adeyemi aside, is Florian Wirtz, who is such a world-class talent.
“He’s one City have to be in for because every other top club is as well. City love him, if there’s a chance to get him they would be.
“Obviously, Bayern Munich want to pair him with Musiala, but Musiala and Wirtz are very much on City’s radar. They really are those two.”
Man City chances of signing a forward in 2025
Though things are still going smoothly on the pitch, it is quite a turbulent time for City at the moment.
The 115 charges hearing with the Premier League is ongoing, Txiki Begiristain will leave his position at the end of the season, Haaland’s release clause comes into effect next summer and it could be Guardiola’s last season at the club.
However, Bailey believes Guardiola’s future shouldn’t have much of an impact on the club’s planned business.
He continues: “Does Pep being there have a long-term impact on their transfer targets?
“I’m not convinced it will. City have embraced themselves as a powerhouse in world football now so they would hope players wouldn’t come just to play for Pep. It’s a massive selling point, of course it is, but I think they hope they’re past that point now.
“There are lots of options out there which I think they are building towards the future. Haaland with his clauses coming into being next summer, that’s an issue in the back of the mind for them.
“I’m surprised they haven’t got another forward in there but they seem happy with the balance of the squad and they’ll have to see how Echeverri places in the squad when he arrives.
“I haven’t heard too much but we know the scouts are looking out there at options. They are looking in the market but they would say they’re looking at all positions in the market and looking at a few options.
“I’d be surprised if it got to the start of next season and there wasn’t another forward in there. Whether it’s an £80/90m like [Benjamin] Sesko, probably not, but another forward I think they probably feel they do need one.
“Not urgently but I think to cover for injuries is the main issue.”
