Pep Guardiola reveals Manchester City transfer plan following Julian Alvarez exit and shock double replacement blow

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed the club’s replacement plans for forward Julian Alvarez.

The 24-year-old is set to become Manchester City’s most expensive player sale, leaving the Etihad Stadium for Atletico Madrid in an initial €75 million transfer deal, that could rise to €95 million dependent on add-ons.

Alvarez signed for the Sky Blues from River Plate for £14 million in 2022, and has made 103 appearances and won six trophies with Pep Guardiola’s side since moving to the Premier League from South America.

The Argentina international played 54 times for Manchester City last season, and registered 32 direct goal involvements across all competitions for the Sky Blues during the previous campaign, scoring 19 goals and registering 13 assists.

Alvarez featured as a centre-forward and midfielder for Guardiola’s side, stepping up in absence of Kevin De Bruyne and competing up-front with Erling Haaland – who has scored 90 goals since his arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

The imminent exit of the 24-year-old comes just one week before the start of the new Premier League season, and could force Manchester City into the transfer market, with Savinho being the Blues’ only first-team addition to date.

Manchester City had been linked with both Dani Olmo and Pedro Neto to potentially replace Alvarez, however both players are set to complete transfers elsewhere, joining Barcelona and Chelsea respectively.

Speaking ahead of the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, Guardiola addressed Manchester City’s plans, saying: “I don’t know yet if we will replace him. We talk every day, we’ll see what will happen. It could happen, it could not happen. We will see.”

Manchester City are set to retain the services of City Football Academy duo James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly for the new season, and have a number of attacking options, despite the planned exit of Alvarez.