Manchester City linked with Lautaro Martinez – Inter Milan demand €60 million
Manchester City will sign a marquee number nine next summer. Erling Haaland is the preferred target but there is every chance that the Norweigan striker could go to Spain to either Barcelona or Real Madrid.
In a scenario like this, it becomes all the more important for the Cityzens to have a plan B ready.
The Sky Blues have been linked with Lautaro Martinez as a potential option, in case their pursuit of Erling Haaland fails.
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Martinez, 24, is one of the better prospects in the attacking front and the Argentinean striker could be ready for a Premier League switch.
The 24-year-old has been in scintillating form for Inter Milan this season, scoring 11 goals and assisting twice in 21 Serie A appearances. In fact, he recently penned down a new contract with the Nerazzurri, extending his stay until 2026.
However, as per a report from the Italian outlet InterLive.it, Inter plan on cashing in on their prized asset.
A summer move for Martinez was always looking near-impossible because Inter did not want to jeopardize their chances of defending the Scudetto, having already lost Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea. Tottenham did show solid interest in signing Martinez but Inter managed to keep their man.
The source understands that Inter will be ready to part ways with the Copa America winner if they get an offer in excess of €60 million.
It is also understood that City could potentially offer Gabriel Jesus as a part of a cash-plus player deal but Inter are only said to be looking for cash.
Will he be a good fit for Manchester City?
Lautaro Martinez certainly possesses all the traits that are required to become a successful striker. The 24-year-old’s explosive pace combined with his finishing makes him cut out for Premier League. Moreover, he would fit into Manchester City with ease.
The only question would be is that if he can adapt to Pep Guardiola’s tactic of having a false 9 at the helm of attack. Martinez is used to playing as a target man.
The Argentinean though is creative and there is no doubt that he can soon adapt to Pep’s false 9 system. His one-touch passes aimed at giving a subtle change of direction to the ball during the forward runs are something that makes him one of the elite finishers in Europe.
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Martinez is also accustomed to shooting with his weaker foot, making him an ambidextrous striker. Also, his concentration abilities are noteworthy, making his presence similar to that of a hawk diving in on its target. He may not be another Sergio Aguero in the making but his unique set of abilities are what that make him a standout, of all the potential strikers that have been linked with City in the recent past.
He still has a long way to go, that’s for sure. However, under Pep Guardiola he can flourish, like his fellow Argentinean and perhaps one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi.