Manchester City have struck gold with Erling Haaland scoring 23 goals with three assists from 18 games this season since his move from Borussia Dortmund over the summer, but Pol Ballus and Sam Lee of The Athletic revealed Dusan Vlahovic was considered a year before the Norwegian international joined.
City failed to replace Sergio Aguero in 2021, notably opting against meeting Harry Kane’s asking price, so Pep Guardiola used Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva up front with varying degrees of success last season.
Vlahovic was one player they ‘explored’ last year in lieu of Kane, having scored 49 goals with eight assists from 108 games in all competitions for Fiorentina, but City concluded that he didn’t meet their standards. The Serbian international went on to join Juventus and has scored 16 goals with four assists from 36 games, so he could have been useful.
Haaland is certainly the better option for City, however, as he’s averaging more than a goal per game and isn’t showing signs of letting up. The 22-year-old signed a five-year deal just months ago, so Guardiola will have one of Europe’s best strikers for a long time.
In other news, highly-rated Kayky will return to Man City after failed loan spell
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