Former defender Micah Richards has admitted it's difficult to say definitively whether Manchester City need to sign a striker, due to their dominant displays this season.
City were desperate to add a new goal-getter-in-chief to their ranks during the summer transfer window following the exit of club legend Sergio Aguero — but failed to bolster that area of the squad.
The Blues were desperate to land Tottenham Hotspur and England star Harry Kane, but were priced-out of a move by Spurs' hefty demands, meaning manager Pep Guardiola was forced to enter the campaign with just one recognisable senior striker in his ranks in Gabriel Jesus, who has since been converted into a right-sided winger.
Despite the lack of a true No.9 at the top end of the pitch, City have only failed to score in three of their opening 10 Premier League fixtures this season, suggesting that they have not been impacted too much by failing to sign an Aguero replacement.
And Richards believes City's performances have been good and when they're at it, scoring goals is not an issue. Yet Richards admitted the lack of a true striker can be used as a stick with which to beat Pep Guardiola's side.
"The performances have been good," Richards told Sky Sports. "I think when they get the ball, we all know they’re going to dominate possession, but sometimes that final creativity — it comes back to should they have a striker, should they not?
"When City play well everyone says they don't need a striker, but when they don’t score, I think it’s six games they haven't scored in, they say they do need one.
"When I look at players like [Sergio] Aguero, or [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Harry] Kane last season — sometimes they have chances the top strikers can finish.
"But when they are playing well, they're scoring goals."
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