Manchester City identify Celtic forward as Julian Alvarez replacement

Premier League champions Manchester City have identified Celtic and Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi as a potential Julian Alvarez replacement.

Etihad Stadium officials finalised an agreement to sell the Argentina international earlier this summer, with the 24-year-old holding clear ambitions to establish himself as the leading striker for one of Europe’s premier clubs.

Having attracted interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea at various stages of the ongoing transfer window, it was Atletico Madrid who came out on top in the race for one of Europe’s most prolific players from last season.

Reaching an agreement with Manchester City over an initial €75 million transfer fee with a further €20 million in potential add-ons, the Premier League giants were left with the task of recruiting a capable back-up and support player to Erling Haaland.

With options relatively limited, a new report has detailed the club’s attention being drawn to the Scottish Premier League, and one player they know well from their pre-season tour of the United States.

According to the information of The Athletic’s Sam Lee, Manchester City are weighing up a move for Celtic forward Kyogo Furuhashi, as they look to replace Julian Alvarez with a player who is prepared to accept a ‘squad role’ at the Etihad Stadium.

It is detailed that the Premier League champions have whittled down their search for that profile of player to the aforementioned 29-year-old Japan international, and ‘one other younger forward’.

Kyogo has now caught the eye of the Etihad Stadium club and the report points out that personal terms ‘would not be a problem’ — if he emerges as their final choice — given the Japan international’s desire to move to Manchester City.

Manchester City have connections to Kyogo both on and off the field, with Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach Juan Lillo having worked with the forward at Vissel Kobe in the 2018/19 campaign in particular.

Upon Lillo’s departure from the club, Kyogo spoke highly of his former coach online saying, “I’m glad I met you. I’m glad to have been mentored by you. I think I’ve changed and grown in the range, quality, and mindset of my play.

“I will definitely become a better player with this experience. I’ll do my best to meet again somewhere. Thank you for the short notice.”

Kyogo has already come up against the Manchester City side of today in recent weeks, scoring against Pep Guardiola’s side during the pre-season tour of the United States in a victory for Celtic in Chapel Hill.

It remains to be seen what Manchester City and Celtic respectively value Kyogo at with a transfer fee likely to reflect his importance to the Scottish Premier League champions.