March 06, (THEWILL) – Pep Guardiola has indicated that Manchester City will look to recruit a new striker this summer in order to strengthen the squad ahead of next season.
THEWILL recalls that after last summer, Sergio Aguero’s departure, City tried unsuccessfully to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham and have instead relied on the likes of Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, and others in a ‘false nine’ role this season.
It is unclear whether City will revive their interest in Kane, who wants to assess Tottenham’s progress and long-term ambition before committing his future to the club.
Erling Haaland has also been widely connected with City in the past, while Robert Lewandowski is set to enter the market but is already a target for Manchester United. The reigning Premier League champions have even been linked with Karim Benzema, who might be pushed out of contention by Bernabeu arrivals such as countryman Kylian Mbappe.
“I think the club needs a striker, definitely,” Guardiola said. “I think the club is going to try, it hasn’t happened but in the end we adapt. We adapt to the players and never complain; they are too good for me. I admire them and I like to work with them.
“If we have a striker, we play in a different way but if you don’t have it you have to adapt with the quality that we have. In England, we are little bit like an exception for that. We have to play in this way, otherwise [other teams] are better.”
They face city rivals Manchester United in the second Manchester derby of the season at a critical moment at the top-end of the Premier League, which has seen title contenders Liverpool put pressure on Guardiola by coming within three points of the champions.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
