Is a Swedish striker being lined up by Manchester City to provide support for Erling Haaland? | OneFootball

Manchester City entered this season with Erling Haaland as their only recognised striker. City’s number 9 has made a prolific start to the new campaign. But it does appear that the champions will need to buy another striker to support Haaland in the future. With that in mind could a Swedish striker be the ideal player to provide support for Haaland up front? The idea of Haaland and Viktor Gyökeres playing together is a tantalising prospect to ponder.

Matthew Cooper has reported for the Mirror that Manchester City have shown interest in signing Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres. Furthermore, Cooper adds that City have identified Sporting Lisbon’s star striker as a potential replacement for Erling Haaland. Cooper further reports that Real Madrid have shown interest in signing Haaland in the future. Lastly, Cooper reports that Manchester City have been in contact with the representatives of Viktor Gyökeres recently.

Could Manchester City be making plans to pair Viktor Gyökeres with Erling Haaland?

Ever since Erling Haaland signed for Manchester City links with a potential move to Spain have been constant. That is evident in Cooper’s recent piece. But a new report from Marca paints another picture. Marca reports that Erling Haaland has no intention of leaving Manchester City. The Spanish publication adds that the Norwegian international is currently in talks with the world champions over a new deal. If Erling Haaland does sign a new deal with Manchester City that’s where City’s links with Viktor Gyökeres become interesting.

Looking at Manchester City’s squad it is clear they do need another striker. As mentioned at the beginning of the article Haaland is the only recognised striker in City’s squad. At some point, you do get the impression that the champions will look to add another striker to their ranks. A player like Viktor Gyökeres would add a different dimension to City’s attack. There is also no reason why the Swedish striker couldn’t play alongside Erling Haaland.

Since arriving at Sporting from Coventry City Gyökeres has become one of the most lethal strikers in the game. He has scored 56 goals in 63 games and also contributed 19 assists since signing for Sporting. There is also versatility to his game. Gyökeres can play across the frontline in a variety of roles. In theory he could play alongside or just behind Erling Haaland or out wide. The game of the Swedish striker does appear suited to a role in Pep Guardiola’s squad. While he does his best work as a striker, Gyökeres does have the technical ability and versatility to his game that is a requirement to play for Manchester City. He could form a lethal partnership with Erling Haaland if he did one day complete a move to the world champions.

With Manchester City’s recent appointment of Hugo Viana to replace Txiki Begiristain at the end of the season it is no surprise to see City linked with a Sporting star. Viana would know the strengths of Gyökeres’ game intimately. Matthew Cooper’s report suggests that City have their eyes on the Swedish striker as a potential Haaland replacement. But on closer inspection there is no reason why Gyökeres could play alongside City’s star striker. That is a tantalising prospect to ponder. It remains to be seen if City’s interest in Viktor Gyökeres is concrete but the thought of him and Haaland up front is an exciting proposition to contemplate.