Given Manchester City’s array of internal options, finding a replacement for Julian Alvarez this month is far from straightforward. Oscar Bobb, who shone during the club’s pre-season tour in the United States, stands out as the most obvious candidate.
The Norwegian international, who turned 21 in mid-July, impressed with two goals and three assists across City’s four high-scoring friendlies.
Bobb seems poised for a more significant role this season after making 26 appearances last year, most of which were as a substitute. His impressive performances in Alvarez’s absence have only bolstered his prospects.
James McAtee is another strong contender, having contributed two assists against Chelsea after scoring in the match against Milan.
Nico O’Reilly also had his moments during the pre-season, assisting Bobb’s goal against Celtic and finding the net himself against Barcelona. Both McAtee and O’Reilly are expected to remain with the first team this season, adding depth to the squad.
Phil Foden is also likely to play a more central role this season than he did in the previous one. With regard to City’s new signings, Savinho is expected to make his mark against Manchester United in the Community Shield, while Claudio Echeverri is scheduled to join the team in January after completing his loan with River Plate.
Pep Guardiola has indicated that the team might consider bringing in a new player if someone leaves, but finding the right quality before the end of the month could be challenging.
As a result, fans shouldn’t expect a flurry of new signings, despite the initial £64 million outlay and the funds generated from the sales of Sergio Gomez, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, and Yan Couto. Guardiola has made it clear that the team will largely resemble last season’s squad, focusing on continuity rather than major changes.
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