Manchester City join transfer race for highly-rated Benfica striker
Manchester City demonstrated once again that they do not necessarily need the services of a traditional number nine to score goals consistently, after an exquisite 4-1 win over Brighton at the Amex Stadium over the weekend.
A double from Phil Foden and goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez gave Pep Guardiola’s side all three points on the south coast, thus, keeping the Sky Blues among the early pacesetters in the Premier League.
Related Story. Manchester City edge ahead in pursuit of Benfica’s Promising talent. light
Having lost Sergio Aguero, Manchester City looked desperate to sign a striker during the summer transfer window and were all over Tottenham’s Harry Kane. However, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy never had any intentions to let Harry Kane leave, even after the England international had expressed his desire to quit his boyhood club before Euro 2020.
Failure to sign Kane left Guardiola empty-handed in the search for a striker, though it doesn’t seem to have impacted the Spaniard’s team all that much. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Cityzens from being linked with a host of names in recent weeks.
According to a report from Italian outlet Calciomercato, Manchester City have joined the race for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez.
Darwin Nunez, 22, enjoyed a productive debut season with Benfica, bagging 14 goals and supplying 12 assists on top of that in 44 games. He has started the new campaign very well with six goals in 10 games across all formats, thereby, piquing the interest of several European bigwigs, including AC Milan, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona, claims Calciomercato.
The interest from Manchester City does make sense considering they were in the market for a bonafide goalscorer after Aguero’s summer departure to Barcelona. In addition, Ferran Torres is ruled out for two months having suffered a metatarsal injury on international duty, while Raheem Sterling is attracting interest from Barcelona.
Next. Manchester City fans optimistic of this EPL Legend superseding Pep Guardiola. dark
So, even though Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne or Jack Grealish can operate as a false 9, Nunez, who is comfortable operating down the middle or on the flanks, could come in as a handy addition, especially if he decides to join Man City in January.
With a queue of clubs vying for his signature, it remains to be seen where the talented Uruguayan international ends up in 2022.