Transfer insider Dean Jones believes that Manchester City could target Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix as an alternative to Harry Kane and Erling Haaland.
The Lowdown: Kane and Haaland linked with Man City
Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of Tottenham star Kane last summer was highly documented as the 28-year-old made it known that he wanted to join the Premier League champions. City even made a £125m bid which was sensationally rejected by Daniel Levy, who was doing anything he could to keep his most prized asset.
Elsewhere, the Sky Blues are in pole position to sign Borussia Dortmund marksman Erling Haaland. It has been reported that the Norwegian has a £67m release clause in his contract, so this could prove to be a much cheaper addition compared to the Spurs man.
The Latest: Man City could go for Felix instead
If Guardiola fails to secure the services of either of these strikers, Jones has claimed that Man City could turn to 22-year-old Joao Felix instead.
Speaking with GiveMeSport, he stated: “Manchester City have seriously looked at Joao Felix for some time, and if their main plans – Kane and Haaland – don’t work out, it would not surprise me at all to see them try to sign the Atletico Madrid star instead.
“People close to the situation have left me in no doubt about how much he is admired within City.”
The Verdict: Pep could get the best out of him
When the Portugal youngster joined the La Liga side in 2019, he became the fifth-most expensive footballer of all time, signing in a deal worth £113m.
Since then, however, Felix has struggled to live up to expectations. In 102 appearances for the club, he has netted just 24 goals, although his underlying stats illustrate his true potential. Over the past year, he has ranked in the 94th percentile for pass completion, the 93rd percentile for progressive carries and the 92nd percentile for progressive passes (via FB Ref).
With a reduced market valuation of £54m and with the prospect of Guardiola working on the 22-year-old’s finishing ability, he could prove to be the perfect target for City if they fail to secure Kane or Haaland.
In other news: Bild drop Erling Haaland to City transfer update
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