Pep Guardiola has admitted that Manchester City need to sign a striker in the near future to replace Sergio Aguero, who left the club in the summer.
Man City did attempt to replace Aguero in the summer, making multiple bids for Tottenham and England star Harry Kane, but they ultimately failed to get a deal across the line. As such, City have been turning to Ferran Torres to play as a false nine in most games this season.
Ahead of his side facing off against one of the best centre-forwards in world football, Guardiola has lamented (via Daily Mail) the lack of a striker in his squad.
"There are two options that we have right now: complaining or say we have exceptional players. These players have taken this club to another level and I'm still fascinated by the way they train, their commitment. That is enough for me.
"We don't have this weapon that others teams have like Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham or other teams. We don't have a player to score 25 league goals for himself, so we have to do it as a team. I cannot deny what a player Romelu Lukaku is.
"You will not hear me moaning for one single moment in this season that we don't have this player, because the players that have been given to me by the club - what things they have give to us in recent years.
"We survived without Sergio in a good way, in the way we played. I think the club knows - and not for me - that it needs a striker in the next years. Sometimes it is possible, sometimes not because they're the more expensive ones."
In light of these comments, the Daily Mail have also reported that Guardiola is to be given a 'mandate' to sign Kylian Mbappe in January. Real Madrid have been the favourites to sign the French superstar for a while, but City are said to be confident of bringing him in on a cut-price deal before his contract at PSG runs out in June.
Source : 90min