Premier League title favorites Manchester City could be set to finally solve the question mark through the center-forward channel after reports have emerged linking Pep Guardiola’s outfit with River Plate starlet Julián Álvarez.
Per reports from numerous outlets and sources including The Athletic, Sky Sports, and transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, City are locked in negotiations with the Argentine giants over a move that would see the club spend a reported £21million on one of the brightest attacking talents to emerge from South America in recent years.
Manchester City board had two meetings with Julián Álvarez agents. Talks have started – but release clause hasn’t been paid, it’s not done yet. ??? #MCFC
Julián won’t join City in January – but they’d look for a loan. Man United never opened talks to sign Álvarez in January. pic.twitter.com/aoDAzUlWar
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 21, 2022
But should a deal be struck for the 21-year-old, reports also suggest that the Argentine international would not join the first-team ranks under Guardiola this month. Instead, City would look to secure a loan move for the Calchín-native to guarantee his minutes do not decrease over the course of the next six months during a period that remains vital to his current and long-term development given his age.
Manchester City running away with the Premier League
Before the beginning of the 2021-22 Premier League campaign, it was thought that current holders Manchester City were going to have to fight tooth and nail to keep hold of their league crown after Pep Guardiola’s men finished 2020-21 with a 12-point lead over rivals Manchester United at the top of the table.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 26: Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 4-0 during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Leicester City at Etihad Stadium on December 26, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
But Chelsea’s Champions League win under Thomas Tuchel at City’s expense had many looking at the Blues as a pre-season favorite to pip the Citizens on the domestic front while the expected resurgence of Liverpool and continued progression of United were all levied as arguments as to why City may not run away with the league yet again. That has not come to pass.
At the time of writing, City has already crafted an 11-point lead over closet competitors Liverpool in the table with sixteen matches left on the books, and every conceivable notion that their lead at the top could well be extended by the conclusion of the current season.
With a trip to Southampton at the weekend to come while both Liverpool and Chelsea have tricky ties of their own, that lead could already increase and – in theory – already be out of touch with the club steaming full speed to the formation of the next dynastic period in Premier League football.
