Manchester City have placed Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez at the top of their list of replacements for Sergio Aguero, according to reports in England.
Haaland is also said to be on Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea’s radar but it is believed that the Norwegian international won’t be available on the cheap. A reported €75m (£67m) release clause only comes into effect at the end of the 2021/22 season and it remains to be seen whether the Citizens would pay a premium to get the 20-year-old next summer.
Martinez, on the other hand, has been a target for City for quite a while and he is believed to be a more realistic purchase. The Argentinian international did have his heart set on a move to Barcelona in the summer but the Catalan club’s financial problems meant he stayed in Italy.
The forward does have a buyout clause set at €111m (£99.5m) and City may have to finance a move through player sales. It is thought that the Manchester club would be open to selling Gabriel Jesus in order to raise funds, even though many see him as Aguero’s successor.