Manchester City look set to miss out on Lautaro Martinez with the Inter Milan striker expected to sign a new, double-your-money deal at the San Siro, according to Eurosport.
City’s stunning run of form is impressive enough. But, when you consider that Pep Guardiola’s side have won each of their last ten games without the club’s all-time record goal-scorer, it really is nothing short of remarkable.
Sergio Aguero has been restricted to just two Premier League starts all season through injury and illness.
With his contract expiring in July, there is a very real chance that a living legend could be set to bring the curtain down on a rather unassuming end to his trophy-laden City career.
Even if Aguero is handed a 12-month extension, he will be 33 in July. A relentless series of fitness problems have taken their toll and a long-term replacement is required, even if Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and co have provided more than enough goals in the Argentine’s absence.
Eurosport claims that City have been scouting Martinez, a penalty-box prowler often referred to as the ‘new Aguero’, for around a year.
But the 23-year-old is now expected to sign a new, long-term contract. Corriere dello Sport backs up these claims, stating that Inter will hand him an improved, £85,000-a-week deal, complete with a £100 million release clause.
Manchester City are now expected to prioritise Borussia Dortmund talisman Erling Haaland instead.
“He’s spectacular. He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player and he is showing that,” Albiceleste teammate Lionel Messi said of a forward who scored 21 goals in 2019/20.
“He’s very strong, really good one on one, scores a lot of goals and in the area he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own. He has a lot of quality. He’s very complete.”
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