Manchester City are expected to make four changes to their line-up for the Champions League last-16 opener with Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday night (8pm).
27.01.2022 - 10:45 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester City could make a surprise January signing by adding River Plate forward Julian Alvarez to their ranks, with a view to him arriving in the summer.
Alvarez was the South American Player of the Year last year, and is currently with the Argentina squad ahead of their fixtures this weekend, offering City fans a look at their potential new man.
With an immediate loan back to River Plate, that could be the only chance for UK audiences to see their new signing in the first few months of his City career, and when he does arrive at the Etihad there could be another attacking addition joining too.
City want a big-name striker in the summer, and Alvarez's purchase won't change that. The Argentine will have to compete with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Riyad Mahrez, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden for one of the front three spots, which may be reduced to two spots if someone like Erling Haaland arrives.
Alvarez operates either up front or on the right for River Plate, but has also had brief experience on the left wing, so we've looked at City's current and potential options to picture where he could fit in Pep Guardiola's team next season.
Right wing
Most of Alvarez's goals and assists in his 101 appearances for club and country have come playing centrally, but if Haaland arrives he would surely be used on the wing. Alvarez is familiar with this position, scoring nine goals and assisting seven from that flank when not leading the line for River Plate.
That would see him competing mostly with Gabriel Jesus and Riyad Mahrez, while Raheem Sterling has also operated there this season. With Haaland, or another high-profile striker, playing centrally, fitting both new signings in a starting lineup would leave Jesus,
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