The majority of Citizens in the Tavern would dread to see the day Sergio Aguero left Manchester City, but there is reason to suggest a move away could benefit the blue half of Manchester.
There is no need for City fans to drown their sorrows just yet, despite rumours that AC Milan are lining up an £80 million swoop for Aguero in January.
City have rapidly risen from a side who could once only realistically aspire to preserve their Premier League status, to one that start the season as title-favourites and genuine contenders for the Champions League.
Aguero’s ability to find the back of the net has been pivotal to this transformation and he is now just one goal short of City’s all-time leading goalscorer Eric Brooks record of 177 goals, a record which he will surely surpass once he returns to full fitness following a car crash in Amsterdam.
However, rumours of a fractured relationship with Guardiola have persisted ever since Gabriel Jesus’ arrival from Palmeiras in January 2017 and the uncertainty regarding his future could prove detrimental to the atmosphere in City’s dressing room over the course of the season.
Perhaps it is the right time for the citizens to consider why cashing in on Aguero in January could benefit their future aspirations.
Pro – Sale would pave the way for a new generation
On the evidence we have already seen of the pure quality and work-rate that Gabriel Jesus can offer the Premier League, the scouts at Manchester City clearly have a sharp eye for raw talent.
With Aguero turning 30 next summer, it would be wise to look at the long-term strategy and use money acquired from the sale of the Argentine, to bring in another young striker who can take City into a new era of success under Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola has spearheaded a ruthless exodus of players who thrived under the Mancini and Pelligrini eras, by allowing fan-favourite Zabaleta and former Arsenal players Clichy and Nasri all to depart this summer.
He is certainly not shy of an eyebrow-raising decision and cashing in on Aguero could well turn out to be his most unexpected stroke of genius to date.
Pro – Aguero cannot come back to haunt Man City from AC Milan
AC Milan are one of the giants in Serie A footballing history, but in recent years, they have struggled to mount a serious challenge at the summit of the Italian top tier.
This season, they are looking to make a comeback to their former glory days by winning the UEFA Europa League, a competition that Manchester City do not partake in.
By selling to an overseas rival not competing in the Champions League, Aguero can do little damage to City’s aspirations for silverware.
City would much prefer to cash in on him in January to AC Milan, than risk losing him to a Premier League or Champions league rival in the future.
Con – Could prove detrimental in City’s pursuit of Lionel Messi
Rumours of what would be an extraordinary transfer of Lionel Messi to Manchester City are never too far from away from the media’s attention.
The latest rumours suggest that Messi could be set for a dramatic move to the Etihad for an astronomical fee of £357 million in January.
However, Messi would surely be left questioning the ambition of his potential suitors, if they were to sell what many would consider an indispensable player during the mid-season window.
Before swapping the Catalan sunshine for gloomy Manchester, Messi would certainly want some assurance that his good friend and international teammate, Aguero, would remain in the city to help with the transition.
Without Aguero on their books, City can wave goodbye to any realistic aspirations of securing Messi’s services.
Con – Replacing a goalscorer is a challenging task
Aguero is a unique player who has demonstrated the ability to score all types of goals, with his left foot, right foot and with his head, from long range, short range, tight angles, you name it.
City’s replacement for Aguero would struggle to immediately reach the incredibly high standard set for him and adequately replacing him could take seasons of hard work.
You only have to look at Fernando Torres’ time at Chelsea to understand that some players can boast fabulous goal-scoring records in one side and distinctly average records in another.
By taking the gamble to replace the most influential talisman of the clubs history in the January window, Guardiola could potentially ruin City’s chances of securing a first ever Champions League victory next May.
