Finding a potential replacement for Julian Alvarez; Felix, Griezmann, Rodrygo and more

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Just two years after arriving at Manchester City with the world at his feet, Julian Alvarez has officially left Manchester City.

The 24 year old is on his way to Atletico Madrid for a reported £82 million after being unhappy with his playing time, having not started any of City's important end of season games despite impressing earlier in the season when Kevin de Bruyne and then Erling Haaland were injured for a while.

The number nine position occupied by Haaland is the role Alvarez sees himself operating in, as he does to great success for the Argentina national team, having won the World Cup and the Copa America as the main striker for his side.

But with Haaland having scored 90 goals in 98 appearances for City, it's fair to say that it's not easy to usurp him, meaning Alvarez is limited to starting most games on the bench or in attacking midfield.

But with Phil Foden's Player of the Season winning form earning him more of a free role, Alvarez's minutes were decreased even further in the closing stages of the campaign.

And considering his summer break has only just started after competing for Argentina in the Olympics, it'd appear that we've seen Alvarez play in a City shirt for the last time.

City's policy for this summer was always to replace any first team players that leave, meaning we're likely to see one more player brought in before the end of the transfer window.

We analyse a few potential Alvarez replacements and their suitability for City in the last few weeks of the transfer window.

Joao Felix

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It'd make logistical sense for City to sign Joao Felix, considering he could be used as a makeweight in any deal used by his current club Atletico to sign Alvarez.

Felix is also similar to Alvarez in that he can play as a centre forward or as a number ten, and has plenty of opportunity to grow as a player at just 24 years of age and under the guidance of the best manager in the world in Pep Guardiola.

For a player who was heralded as the next best thing as a teenager, Felix's career at Atletico never really kicked on, and he was unable to properly settle at either Chelsea or Barcelona during his loan spells there.

Mauricio Pochettino, who has the option to keep Felix at Chelsea, opted against it due to concerns regarding his work rate, which obviously will be a concern for Guardiola, who demands 100% effort and running from all of his players.

Guardiola does like Felix still however, along with numerous senior members on the board of City's club having shown open interest in him before, meaning the Portuguese international is by far the most likely forward to move to City this summer.

Antoine Griezmann

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If there are any flaws in Felix's game, they are certainly not held by Antoine Griezmann.

The Frenchman is a hardworking, versatile attacker who has excelled as the main man for Atletico for many years.

With Alvarez on his way in, it's likely an Atletico attacker will need to leave to create room, and if the departing forward is Griezmann then City may well benefit more than anyone.

Unlike Alvarez, however, Griezmann is perfectly comfortable slotting into attacking midfield or on either flank, perhaps making him more similar in playing style to Foden.

Griezmann, formerly on the Ballon d'Or podium in 2016 and 2018, will provide quality and versatility in depth for City, with the capability of pushing Haaland, De Bruyne and Foden to make sure none of them are too comfortable in their positions.

He is towards the end of his career aged 33, but will provide a lot of quality depth and experience for City's youthful front line.

Gabriel Jesus

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Bear with us on this one.

Who better to replace Alvarez than the man he initially replaced when coming into City?

Gabriel Jesus enjoyed five and a half seasons for City, winning the Premier League four times along with the FA Cup and numerous Carabao Cups and Community Shields.

He never properly nailed down a starting place, due to issues with consistency and prolificness in front of goal, as well as having to sit behind Sergio Aguero in the pecking order and then fell victim to City's false nine system in his last two seasons at the club.

But he is versatile, a fantastic dribbler, extremely hardworking, and already has the experience of success in a Guardiola team, as well as being popular with the fans.

He took on more of a leadership role when he first arrived at Arsenal, but has now lost his starting place to Kai Havertz and may consider a move back to the Etihad.

It will never happen, but a bid of approximately £50 million may tempt Arsenal to allow Jesus to return to City to act as cover for the frontline.

Rodrygo

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For now, signing Rodrygo is a pipe dream, but if his minutes at Real Madrid decline next season, the Brazilian forward could be City's number one target heading into the 2025/26 campaign.

The biggest contribution he'd bring to City would be goals and assists, supporting De Bruyne, Foden and Haaland in this sense and subsequently replacing Alvarez.

He'd be the most similar player to Raheem Sterling that City have had since the England international left, such is his contribution of goal involvements, movement and positioning making him a striker-esque threat from the wing.

Versatility wise, he is perhaps more useful than Sterling, operating just as comfortably down the middle as on either flank

Whether he'd be able to get enough minutes to satisfy him with great competition for places in the front three is questionable, but under Guardiola, Rodrygo would become one of the best players in the world.

Or.... someone else entirely?

Of course, there is every chance that City don't replace Alvarez with another striker, whether they even opt to replace him at all.

City have plenty of cover up front. Haaland is the only natural striker, but the likes of Foden, Bernardo, De Bruyne, Grealish and Bobb can play as a false nine for if Haaland is injured or needs a rest.

Even James McAtee, who is set to stay with the first team squad this season after spending the past two years at Sheffield United, could play in that role if necessary, meaning it is unlikely that City actually need another striker.

They might choose to add another option into the mix however. If they do go down this route, with Dani Olmo on his way to Barcelona, I'd expect the Blues to turn to Eberechi Eze, considering they've held an interest in him before and he's got a £60 million release clause in his contract.

Or, as another possibility, they may look at signing a new defensive midfielder to cover Rodri, a signing the fans have been crying out for for the entirety of the transfer window.

Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes is on City's radar, as well as Adam Wharton, with the Blues apparently huge fans of the talented 20 year old from Crystal Palace.

Alternatively, they may just choose to sign no-one at all. Guardiola labelled Kovacic, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nico O'Reilly all capable of filling in for Rodri whenever necessary.

The City boss likes a small squad, and may choose not to stunt the development of the likes of O'Reilly and Rico Lewis in midfield areas by overcrowding the squad with too many options.

Those in senior roles at City have important decisions to make as to how and if Alvarez is replaced.

Whatever decision they make, we can trust the board to make the right decision as they have done so many times before in the past.

Gakpo

Griezmann

Rodrygo

Joao Felix

Jesus

OR we sign a midfielder to fill the gap in the squad