- Manchester City reportedly have their sights set on a Scottish Premier League striker
- However, there is one problem that could cause a problem while chasing him.
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Manchester City have reportedly lined up a Scottish Premier League star as a possible replacement for Julian Alvarez.
The champions have reduced their roster to two forwards, with a younger striker joining the SPL striker.
Alvarez’s £81m move to Atletico Madrid was one of the most surprising moves of the summer given his youth and importance to City.
The 24-year-old World Cup winner played the fifth-most minutes of any City player last season and won six trophies in two-and-a-half years at the Etihad.
He has expressed frustration at being left out of City’s biggest games and the club are looking for someone willing to accept a role in the team.
Manchester City have reportedly targeted an SPL star as a possible replacement for Julian Alvarez
The champions are interested in Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi, who has 73 goals in 153 games for them.
The athletic City are reportedly interested in Celtic’s 29-year-old Kyogo Furuhashi and a younger striker. Furuhashi is keen to join the team.
Kyogo joined Celtic in July 2021 for £4.5m and has scored 73 goals in 153 appearances for them, winning the Scottish Premiership every season and four domestic cups.
An important issue to consider is that Kyogo might have to undergo surgery for a long-standing shoulder problem.
The operation would keep him out of action for four months. “I think he’s been doing this for a long time, long before he came to Celtic,” said Brendan Rodgers.
“I think it’s something that happened to him in Japan, where he’s dealing with a shoulder problem and from time to time he gets a little irritable and a little sore. He could have surgery, but he’d probably be out of action for about four months. Only he can decide.”
Ange Postecoglou brought him over from Vissel Kobe in his native Japan and was effusive in her praise of him.
“I’ve said it a number of times, from the moment this lad came in he’s been exceptional,” he said after Furuhashi scored twice against Rangers.
‘He gives his all in every game he plays, he’s a threat. If he doesn’t score a goal, he works very hard for the team. He delivers in the important games. He’s a winner.
Ange Postecoglou described Kyogo’s movement as “the best I’ve ever seen” while at Celtic.
‘I had experienced it firsthand in Japan as an opponent, which I didn’t enjoy.
“I knew what he could bring, not only as a player but as a person. He’s extraordinary.”
On another occasion, Postecoglou described Furuhashi’s movement as “the best I have ever seen.”
Adequately replacing Alvarez, who has signed a six-year contract with Atletico, is a difficult task.
The fact that he paid £81m shows his standing in the game and finding a player of similar quality who is willing to sit out big games is an unenviable task.