Manchester City are working to bolster their attacking options in the January transfer window, identifying Randal Kolo Muani (PSG) and Evan Ferguson (Brighton) as potential back-ups for Erling Haaland. This comes amidst a torrid run of form, squad depth concerns, and increasing reliance on Haaland.
DETAILS:
Squad Revamp Plans: City’s underwhelming season has forced officials to accelerate plans for a 2025 squad rebuild. The current campaign has exposed glaring weaknesses, with the club managing just one win in their last 11 games, languishing in fifth place in the Premier League, and crashing out of the Carabao Cup.
Striker Shortage: The summer exit of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid left City without a viable back-up for Haaland. While the club passed on signing forwards like Orri Óskarsson and Kyogo Furuhashi, the decision has placed immense pressure on Haaland to start every game, which has visibly affected his form.
TARGETS IN FOCUS:
Randal Kolo Muani: The 26-year-old French forward is reportedly on City’s radar after struggling for game time at PSG. According to GIVEMESPORT, informal contacts have already been made through intermediaries, with City leaning toward a loan move in January and revisiting the situation in the summer.
Pep Guardiola sees Kolo Muani as a rare opportunity to secure a player of his quality mid-season.
Evan Ferguson: Brighton’s Evan Ferguson is also under consideration, although there are concerns about his injury record and lack of consistent minutes.
Despite initial skepticism about the risks of pursuing the Irish striker, Guardiola remains interested in exploring his potential.
PEP GUARDIOLA’S COMMENTS:
Guardiola has highlighted squad depth as a critical issue this season, admitting in October, “Oscar [Bobb] is not here yet, and Phil [Foden] is getting better, so right now Erling’s a really, really important piece in our team.”
This acknowledgment underscores the importance of securing reinforcements for Haaland, especially as City face a grueling second half of the season.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Manchester City travel to Villa Park on Saturday for a Premier League clash against Aston Villa, desperate to halt their dismal run following a 1-2 derby defeat to Manchester United.
The upcoming January transfer window will be pivotal in determining whether City can salvage their season or if their struggles will persist.
CITATIONS:
- GIVEMESPORT report on Manchester City’s striker search.
- Manchester City’s Premier League and Carabao Cup performances.
- Pep Guardiola’s October 2024 press conference.
Can City’s January moves reignite their campaign, or is this season destined for more disappointment? Fans await answers as the transfer window approaches.
