Manchester City have begun the process of securing a striker who could be Erling Haaland’s backup – and who could be his successor if the rumours of the Norwegian’s possible departure in the upcoming transfer windows were to materialise.
It will be between Barcelona or Real Madrid for the Norwegian goal machine.
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Sporting director Hugo Viana, together with coach Enzo Maresca, aims to bring in a striker who can immediately act as a rotation option for Haaland, but who is also willing to take the undisputed starting spot if the Norwegian striker decides to leave the Etihad Stadium. That could happen if the club is sanctioned or administratively relegated to the second division as a result of violating the Premier League’s rules for Financial Fair Play.
Two profiles on Hugo Viana’s agenda: Evanilson and Nicolò Tresoldi
In order to protect the English club’s offensive production from any legal or sporting situation, the technical apparatus behind the scenes has focused on two priority objectives with different characteristics and assessments:
Evanilson (AFC Bournemouth): According to The Daily Briefing, Manchester City share a direct interest with Arsenal for the 27-year-old Brazilian international (two first-team appearances). He has been linked with the southern English club since August 16, 2024 with a contract until June 30, 2029, is in strong form and has a market value of €35 million according to Transfermarkt.
Nicolò Tresoldi (Club Brugge): According to reports from Het Nieuwsblad and La Stampa, the British club has already made formal representations to the Belgian club to clarify the transfer terms for the 22-year-old German striker. With a starting price of around 70 million euros, City will have to compete with AC Milan’s determined push and Bayern Munich’s continuous monitoring.
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Hugo Viana’s strategy aims to prevent a disciplinary decision in England from leaving Enzo Maresca’s project without a reference player in attack. While Erling Haaland continues to be the mainstay of attack, the board wants to stay ahead of market inflation by securing a young profile with elite potential – or a striker who is already adapted to the physical demands of the English Championship.
Manchester City’s envoys will step up contact in both England and Belgium in the coming weeks of November and December 2026. If the negotiations make it possible to meet the financial demands of AFC Bournemouth or Club Brugge, the Manchester club will activate their push to ensure the arrival of their new striker in 2027.
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