MX23RW : Sunday, April 11 01:49:57| >> :120:32262:32262:

Pep Guardiola admits Man City may not replace Sergio Aguero

Pep Guardiola admits Man City may not replace Sergio Aguero
© Reuters
The 32-year-old striker has scored 257 goals for the club.

Pep Guardiola has suggested Manchester City may not look to sign a direct replacement for record goalscorer Sergio Aguero next season.

City announced earlier this week that striker Aguero, who has scored 257 goals for the club, will leave the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the season.

City have been linked with Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe but Guardiola is not sure such targets are realistic.

Guardiola said: "There is a lot of big chances that maybe we are not going to sign a striker for next season.

"We have enough players in the first team right now and we have interesting players in the academy.

"There is a big chance, with the situation in the world, the economic problems in world football, we are not going to sign any striker for next season."

Guardiola admits the club's decision not to renew terms with Aguero, 32, was a tough one.

Aguero has scored 257 goals in 10 years at City
Sergio Aguero has scored 257 goals in 10 years at City (Nick Potts/PA)

He said: "We know how important a player he is in the present and was in the past. These decisions are never easy.

"Maybe we could find a new player to replace Sergio in terms of numbers but it is almost impossible to replace him in terms of what he means to this club."

One in-form striker Premier League leaders City are set to come up against as they travel to Leicester on Saturday is their former player Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Nigerian, who left City in 2017, has scored seven goals in his last four games for Brendan Rodgers' Foxes.

Former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is in good form for Leicester
Former City striker Kelechi Iheanacho is in good form for Leicester (Lindsey Parnaby/PA)

Guardiola said: "Incredible. The quality was there. He was a young player here and I think with Gabriel (Jesus) we didn't have enough space.

"He is a fantastic person, we had a good relationship, and I'm glad to see him playing well."

Guardiola has reported no fresh injuries ahead of his quadruple-chasing side's trip to the King Power Stadium but not all players away on international duty have yet rejoined the squad.

He said: "There are six, seven, eight players we didn't see. They were not allowed to come into the bubble for the test. Today we will make the training session and are going to decide the team and see how the players have come back from the international break."

ID:441567: cacheID:441567:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6755:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Arsenal players celebrate scoring against Liverpool on September 28, 2020
Read Next:
Premier League gameweek 30 predictions including Arsenal vs. Liverpool
>

rhs 2.0
Todays Game Header Right
Premier League
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Bundesliga
Ligue 1
Eredivisie
Primeira Liga
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League
Greek Superleague
Swiss Super League
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Norwegian Eliteserien
Swedish Allsvenskan
Danish Superliga
Belarusian Premier League
Segunda Division
Serie B
2.Bundesliga
Ligue 2
Eerste Divisie
Copa Diego Maradona
Liga MX
Australian A-League
J1 League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32235467234474
2Manchester UnitedMan Utd30179458332560
3Leicester CityLeicester30175853341956
4Chelsea31159750311954
5Liverpool31157953371652
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham30157848371152
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs30147951321949
8Everton29145104138347
9Leeds UnitedLeeds31143144949045
10Aston Villa301351243331044
11Arsenal30126124035542
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves31108133141-1038
13Crystal Palace31108133352-1938
14Southampton30106143953-1436
15Burnley3089132440-1633
16Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton30711123338-532
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle3078153050-2029
18Fulham32511162442-1826
19West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom3049172559-3421
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3042241752-3514

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!