Alvarez sold, Bobb injured – Five transfer options to solve Man City’s offensive crisis?

Robin Bairner

15 Aug 2024 14:00 BST
4 min read

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Manchester City are going into the final two weeks of the summer transfer window shorthanded in attack.

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While Pep Guardiola boasts the enviable talent of Erling Haaland in attack, beyond the Norway international superstar, the Catalan suddenly finds himself bereft of options.

Julian Alvarez was sold to Atletico Madrid without being replaced, while Oscar Bobb, who was primed to step up and take the place of the Argentine, finds himself facing an extended period on the sidelines with a fractured leg.

Current ETV

Oscar Bobb

M (C)

Man City

Oscar Bobb

M (C)

Man City

ETV Range

€7.8M - €13.1M

Fabrizio Romano has reported: “Manchester City are now set to enter the market with talks taking place internally to pick fav option.

“After Oscar Bobb’s injury in addition to Alvarez exit, City want to proceed on the market.”

With plenty of options in the wide areas, it is likely to be a more direct replacement for Alvarez who is studied.

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To that end, FootballTransfers has enlisted the help of data analytics firm SciSports to suggest players comparable in style and skill to the Argentine.

Using its Player Comparison tool, FootballTransfers searched a player who boasts Alvarez’s strengths:

Style: Minimum 90% similarity to Julian Alvarez

Main position: Centre forward

Finishing: Top third of league

Crossing: Top third of league

Defensive positioning: Top third of league

Here are five possible options.

Vincent Boniface – Bayer Leverkusen

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV): €31.9m

Boniface was an important member of the Bayer Leverkusen squad that won the Bundesliga last season and was touted for a move for the Premier League earlier this summer.

Xabi Alonso has managed to keep much of his squad together and will not want to see his leading Bundesliga scorer from last season depart, but Boniface is arguably more expendable than some other players in his squad, so this is not one to entirely rule out.

He has previously admitted that he is an Arsenal fan.

STATS

Victor Boniface

F (C)

Bayer 04

Victor Boniface

F (C)

Bayer 04

33

Games
21

Goals
9

Assists

Lautaro Martinez - Inter

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV): €66.5m

How about an Argentine coming in to replace his countryman? Attracting the 26-year-old is certainly a long shot, particularly since City cannot guarantee him first-team football, but there is little doubt over the quality of Lautaro.

Indeed, with a current SciSkill of 121.9, he is the best player on this list. His age profile, meanwhile, isn’t bad, even if he is the oldest player among those suggested.

Inter have previously put a price tag of €100m on his head and will be very reluctant to sell, particularly at this late point in the window.

STATS

Lautaro Martínez

F (C)

Inter

Lautaro Martínez

F (C)

Inter

44

Games
27

Goals
4

Assists

Lois Openda – RB Leipzig

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV): €60.8m

Over the course of the last couple of seasons, Openda has been a man on fire. After netting 21 goals for Lens as they finished as runners-up to PSG, the Belgium international grabbed 28 for RB Leipzig last term.

With the Bundesliga side managing to retain both Xavi Simons and Benjamin Sesko after significant transfer battles, they may be more willing to see the 24-year-old depart – but he would not be cheap.

Could Jeremy Doku or Kevin De Bruyne act as an agent for them in this possible more?

STATS

Loïs Openda

F (C)

RB Leipzig

Loïs Openda

F (C)

RB Leipzig

45

Games
28

Goals
7

Assists

Arnaud Kalimuendo – Rennes

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV): €60.8m

Fresh back from winning an Olympic silver medal with France, Kalimuendo offers an interesting option.

He came through the youth academy at PSG, and while he has shown some promise in Ligue 1, it has never truly been recognised on the first-team stage. Pep Guardiola might be just the coach to unlock it.

City, meanwhile, did business with Rennes to sign Doku last summer, so the relationship to get a deal over the line is there.

STATS

Loïs Openda

F (C)

RB Leipzig

Loïs Openda

F (C)

RB Leipzig

45

Games
28

Goals
7

Assists

Joao Pedro - Brighton

Estimated Transfer Value (ETV): €25.9m

Saving the best to last? Joao Pedro looks the most compatible replacement for Alvarez in the attack, and at 22 years old is a player who could flourish under Guardiola’s guidance.

FootballTransfers understands Arsenal have been closely following the Brazilian, but with City having the greater need, this would be an idea opportunity for them to pounce on a high-calibre backup for Haaland who could slot into Alvarez’s boots.