Replacing Julian Alvarez with a new signing this month is not a certainty, as Manchester City has several internal options to consider.
Oscar Bobb is the most prominent among these options, having been the standout player during the club’s pre-season tour in the United States. Since turning 21 in mid-July, the Norwegian international has scored two goals and assisted three others in City’s four high-scoring friendlies.
After making 26 appearances last season, mostly as a substitute, Bobb seems poised for a more significant role, especially after impressing in Alvarez’s absence.
James McAtee has also made a strong case for himself by scoring in the match against Milan and assisting twice against Chelsea. Nico O’Reilly capitalized on his opportunities in other games, setting up Bobb’s goal versus Celtic and scoring against Barcelona.
Both McAtee and O’Reilly are expected to remain in the first-team squad this season. Additionally, there is an expectation that Phil Foden will play more centrally this campaign than he did last term.
Regarding new signings, Savinho is anticipated to make a positive impression against Manchester United in the Community Shield. Claudio Echeverri is also set to join in January after completing his loan at River Plate.
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged the possibility of adding to the squad if a player leaves, but finding the right talent before the end of the month is challenging.
Therefore, despite the initial £64 million fee and the money from sales of Sergio Gomez, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, and Yan Couto, Guardiola has indicated that the squad will largely resemble last season’s lineup.
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