Pep Guardiola's side have up to £82m to splash on a replacement for the Argentine after making a stunning return on their investment
Manchester City thought that they might have to replace Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva or Ederson this summer. But in the end, Pep Guardiola's most-trusted players all look set to stay.
Instead, the Cityzens' most high-profile departure looks like being Julian Alvarez. City sold El Arana (The Spider) to Atletico Madrid for £82 million ($105m) in a stunning piece of business, making more than five-times the amount they invested on bringing the Argentine to the Etihad Stadium two years previously.
Alvarez was a selfless stand-in for Erling Haaland for two seasons and also carried the baton in De Bruyne's absence, but ultimately he wanted as big a role for his club as he has for his national team and has now got it.
Atletico made City an offer they couldn't refuse and the money-spinning sale gives the champions the opportunity to heavily reinvest in their squad. But how should they replace the serial-winner who scored 36 goals and contributed 18 assists while helping them scoop up six trophies?
(C)Getty ImagesAlexander Isak
The gangly Swedish striker became Newcastle's record signing when he switched from Real Sociedad to Tyneside for £63m ($80m) in the summer of 2022. But he could have joined City, as Pep Guardiola later revealed he was on the club's radar while still in Spain.
Isak has kept getting better, scoring 35 goals in all competitions with Newcastle, leaving Guardiola in awe. "We started to follow him at Real Sociedad. We were impressed. He was a target," the Catalan revealed last season.
"Wow. He is a young player but with these skills. All the clubs around the world take a look. It is not a surprise and he's adapted really well here in the Premier League."
Isak, 25, would make a perfect replacement for Alvarez, and although he would cost a lot, he would be a formidable stand-in for Haaland and could even play alongside him.
AdvertisementGetty Lois Openda
City are well aware of Openda's capabilities as a striker after he scored three times against them in the Champions League last season. The goals were no fluke, as the 24-year-old struck 28 times in all competitions, finishing as the third-top scorer in the Bundesliga.
Openda became RB Leipzig's record signing when he joined from Lens for €45m (£38m/$49m) and they would be reluctant to let him go. However, the Germans have long been a selling club and would surely part with him if City could offer them a tidy profit, funded by the Alvarez cash.
Getty ImagesFlorian Wirtz
Wirtz is more of a No.10 than a centre-forward, but Alvarez often had to perform as a second striker for City so his replacement should also be able to play in both roles.
Wirtz was the standout performer for Xabi Alonso's incredible Bayer Leverkusen side last season, scoring 15 times and setting up another 15 goals for his team-mates. He is valued at more than £100m, which would make him City's record signing, but he could be more than worth it as a replacement not just for Alvarez, but also for De Bruyne, who looks set for his final season with the Cityzens.
GettyVictor Osimhen
The Nigerian striker was the fifth-leading scorer in Europe when he fired Napoli to the Serie A title in 2022-23, but his relationship with the club has since soured and for some time he has been looking for a way out. Napoli were holding out for a huge transfer fee, but have since dropped their asking price to €100m (£85m/$110m), which is now within City's reach after the Alvarez deal.
Osimhen, 25, would want to be the main man at his next club, which could be an obstacle to him joining City, where Haaland is very much first-choice. But he would also be practically guaranteed silverware at the Etihad Stadium and City could not ask for a better back-up in the event the Norwegian got injured.