Julian Alvarez’s potential replacement at Manchester City this month is not a certainty, given that the team has several viable internal options ready to step up. Among these, Oscar Bobb stands out as the most promising candidate, especially after his impressive performances during the club’s pre-season tour in the United States.
Since turning 21 in mid-July, the Norwegian international has made a significant impact, scoring two goals and providing three assists across City’s four high-scoring friendlies.
Bobb’s contributions have not gone unnoticed, and his prospects for a more prominent role in the team have increased significantly. Last season, he appeared 26 times for City, although the majority of those appearances were as a substitute, with only seven starts. However, his standout performances during Alvarez’s absence have likely boosted his chances of securing a more significant role in the team this season.
James McAtee is another player whose prospects have been bolstered by his pre-season performances. After scoring in the match against Milan and assisting two more goals against Chelsea, McAtee has demonstrated his potential to contribute effectively to the team.
Nico O’Reilly has also shown promise, having participated in two of the pre-season games. O’Reilly set up Bobb’s opening goal against Celtic and later found the back of the net himself against Barcelona.
Both McAtee and O’Reilly are expected to remain in the first-team squad for the upcoming season, reflecting the club’s confidence in their abilities. Additionally, Phil Foden is anticipated to play a more central role this season compared to the previous term, further diversifying City’s attacking options.
In terms of new additions to the squad, Savinho is one to watch. The Brazilian youngster is expected to make a positive first impression when he faces Manchester United in the Community Shield. Additionally, Claudio Echeverri is set to join the team in January after completing his loan spell at River Plate, adding further depth to City’s squad in the latter half of the season.
Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that the club might consider bringing in a new signing if a player were to leave, but he also pointed out the difficulty of finding the right quality of player before the end of the transfer window.
Therefore, despite the initial £64 million transfer fee spent and the revenue generated from the sales of players like Sergio Gomez, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, and Yan Couto, fans should not expect a flurry of new signings before the window closes.
Guardiola has made it clear that the squad will largely resemble last season’s team, emphasizing the club’s strategy of relying on its internal talent pool rather than seeking multiple new acquisitions.
This approach suggests that City is confident in the abilities of its current players and believes that they can continue to perform at the highest level without the need for significant changes.
