Ferran Torres is Barcelona-bound and attention is already turning to what it means for Manchester City’s next move in the transfer market.
The replacement for Leroy Sane who didn’t really replace Sane but instead sort of replaced Sergio Aguero needs replacing. But the main priority remains an Aguero replacement, who is yet to arrive.
Are you all keeping up?
It’s a handy demonstration of how nothing ever makes complete sense when the wheeling and dealing gets underway. For example, City are seemingly poised to sign off on a deal that could end up being worth £55million - their record sale - with a club that are €1.35billion in debt.
Plenty of fans will want the Torres bounty put towards a concerted effort to bring in Borussia Dortmund goal machine Erling Haaland. The appeal of such a strategy is clear and obvious.
Perhaps too obvious for director of football Txiki Begiristain, who - along with Pep Guardiola - has generally steered City’s transfer policy clear of the sort of bidding wars that are almost certain to come into play where Haaland is concerned.
So who are some of the more left-field alternatives? Using a far less-scientific method to those employed by Begiristain and his staff, we searched Transfermarkt’s database of forwards with market valuations of £55m or less and put together this quartet.
Victor Osimhen - Napoli (estimated market value £54m)
After a year bedding into life in Serie A following his move from Lille, Nigeria international Osimhen was spearheading Napoli’s Scudetto charge until suffering a broken cheekbone at the end of last month.
The 22-year-old has nine goals in 14 appearances across all competitions this season, including a brace when Napoli came form 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Leicester City in the Europa League.
Physically imposing, strong in the air and boasting an assured touch with both feet, Osimhen ticks a lot of boxes despite not appearing a typically Guardiola forward at first glance.
Richarlison - Everton (estimated market value £49.5m)
Okay, so the main reason Richarlison is on the list is because last month Ederson said he is the Brazilian he would bring to City above ahead of any of his other countrymen.
"For the chats. He’s a goof, a clown. There are many words I can put on him,” he explained to TNT Sports. Who are we to argue with the great man?
Guardiola would probably have a question or two, however, and while Richarlison is an excellent player who it would be nice to see play for a club that doesn’t have their matchdays soundtracked by Z-Cars at some point, this one is probably a non-starter.
Jonathan David - Lille (estimated market value £45m)
Lille might have failed to collectively build upon their surprise Ligue 1 triumph last season but Canada international David has continued to go from strength to strength.
A late winner against Bordeaux on Wednesday means he has 12 goals at the halfway point of the domestic top-flight season, while he also struck three times in six Champions League outings.
The 21-year-old’s agent Nick Mavromaras told Radio Canada this week that 2021/22 will be his client’s last in France and David’s aptitude when it comes to attacking spaces in behind defences, along with excellent anticipation, makes him the most like-for-like Ferran alternative on this list.
However, links to Arsenal - especially in light of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang being stripped of the captaincy - seem like a more natural fit at this stage.
Dusan Vlahovic - Fiorentina (estimated market value £45m)
You probably know all about this guy by now. Murmurs linking City to Serbia international Vlahovic first emerged around the collapse of attempts to lure Harry Kane to the Etihad Stadium in August.
The 21-year-old has revelled under the extra attention, racking up 18 goals in 21 outings this term, all against the backdrop of a contract stand-off with Fiorentina.
It has been widely reported that Vlahovic will be on the market for something in the region of £70m, a good way north of Transfermarkt’s valuation but still a good price for his combination of superb technical quality, physical presence and goalscoring prowess.
Nevertheless, the fact Vlahovic’s representatives appear to be among the busiest operators in European football right now might have already marked them down in Begiristain’s estimations.
Who would you like to see City bring in if Ferran Torres leaves? Follow the City Is Ours editor Dom Farrell on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
