An unexpected move from Julian Alvarez away from Manchester City will leave the club, already well off with funding, with a bit more money to burn should they look back into the transfer market before the window ends in a few weeks.
For most, Julian Alvarez's move from Manchester City came as a bit of a shock and came about rather quickly. A player of his quality has every right to demand that starting role given that he would walk into every team's starting 11 in Europe (maybe apart from Real Madrid now). Were it not for Erling Haaland, Alvarez would have his wish.
Alas, he decided a move was best for his career development having won everything with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola in the 2 seasons he spent with the club. This comes as a huge blow for Manchester City and fans alike. Despite not starting in his preferred position for many games throughout his time with the club, he provided 13 assists and scored 19 goals in 54 games for the Premier League champions last year. Outstanding numbers for somebody who is considered a "backup".
🔴⚪️🛫 Julián Álvarez will land in Madrid later today ahead of medical tests on Monday.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 11, 2024
All documents are signed between the two clubs as Man City will receive €75m plus €20m add-ons.
Julián will also sign on Monday in Madrid. pic.twitter.com/D5IaOdAI4U
In a deal that is being reported at €75m plus €20m in add-ons, this means Manchester City could have some cash to burn through should they want to strengthen their squad. Ideas have been floated, with the club potentially investigating the market for a backup to Rodri when he inevitably needs rest, and now another attacker could be in the cards.
Let's complete the perfect window for Manchester City:
Coverage for Rodri - Joshua Kimmich
The links between Manchester City and Joshua Kimmich have floated around on occasion over the past season. Right now, Bayern Munich can either cash in or potentially lose him for nothing next year, which would be a massive mistake for the Bavarian club. The third option, of course, is they find an agreement on an extension which looks less likely this summer.
Pep Guardiola has already managed him when he was with Bayern Munich, and this deal seems like a no-brainer. While his age profile does not fit the traditional target of Manchester City, Kimmich would be a welcome addition as he could play both right back if need be, as well as in a holding midfield as a backup to Rodri (or even alongside him).
Last season, Rodri played 50 games for City, and it was clear for all to see when he was not in the lineup, as the team did not look the same nor did they play the same. With an increasingly difficult scheduling setup for players at the top levels in Europe, City know that having a valuable backup to their main man Rodri could make all the difference in going for a 5th successive Premier League title. Would Kimmich be willing to play that role? That might be the harder sell, so let's let this dream live on.
Alvarez repalcement - Victor Boniface
The departure of Alvarez from Manchester City could pose some serious questions from a very talented squad. Pep and City have played a false-9 to cope back when Aguero and Jesus were injured, and it worked. Whether it was Gundogan, Foden, or De Bruyne, Manchester City got the job done. With each season that goes by, teams come that much harder for the throne that City currently sits on and have occupied for 4 straight seasons now.
This is why a proper striker could end up being a legitimate priority in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. On the wings, they've got coverage between the likes of Phil Foden, Savio, Doku, and Jack Grealish, further turning the focus towards a striker. Now, in this instance, Boniface is not a like-for-like replacement for Alvarez, obviously. So, as mentioned, a striker should be top of mind.
There's not a lot of options out there, and Boniface has even publicly stated that he has no intentions to leave Leverkusen. Xabi Alonso is staying on, and will want one of his main men to stay as well, even given the injuries that Victor Boniface dealt with, he still contributed at a very high level throughout their unbeaten season. If Manchester City could go after a striker, in this dream scenario, Boniface would be a very solid option.
An outlandish idea, that much is clear, but stranger transfers have happened.
Backup transfer - Eberechi Eze
Kevin De Bruyne ain't getting any younger, and with Oscar Bobb now going down for a minimum of a few months, I think Eze would be a fantastic long-term target for Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. He has the creativity, he can take over set pieces, he scores, and assists. He does about everything you want from somebody in his position and has some positional flexibility as well between playing an attacking midfielder and playing on the wing.
Like many players for Manchester City, nobody can truly replace Kevin De Bruyne and his impact on this City team, but the links between the England International and Manchester City are undeniable.
Who do you think Manchester City will bring in come the end of the transfer window?