Global strike pair top Manchester City summer wishlist
Published:With four Premier League sides having scored more times than Manchester City this season, Roberto Mancini has made a striker his priority addition this summer.
And it is Real Madrid hitman Gonzalo Higuain who he is believed to be most keen on.
Still only 25, Higuain has started games much less frequently during Jose Mourinho’s reign in Spain, yet maintained an impressive goalscoring ratio, and he could welcome the opportunity to move for more regular first-team action.
Meanwhile, the fact that the Argentinian international maintains a close personal friendship with City striker Sergio Aguero also stands the Citizens in good stead to land the attacker.
As implied, it is thought Mancini blamed City’s destined-to-fail attempted title defence this term on their inferior efforts in front of goal, in comparison to local rivals Manchester United.
As such, Higuain may not be his sole close-season striking addition, as the Italian boss looks to significantly bolster his firepower.
Whilst moves for Radamel Falcao and Edinson Cavani have been rumoured, the £100m combined cost of the pairing looks off-putting, even for a club of City’s immense financial stature.
Therefore, it looks more likely that Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski will accompany Higuain to the Etihad Stadium.
Lewandowski has outlined his desire to leave the Westfalenstadion behind this summer, and City have joined Bayern Munich and United in pursuit of the Polish striker.
Although Jurgen Klopp has stated he will not let the player leave for a penny less than the club’s asking price, City are prepared to pay £25m for a player whose contract expires in 2014.
At a total fee of £50m therefore, Higuain and Lewandowski can provide the Sky Blues with two international forwards for half the price that Falcao and Cavani would cost.
Carlos Tevez’s expected summer departure would generate the majority of the funds required to sign the former pair, whose futures look certain to lie away from their respective current clubs.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
