Manchester City’s deadline day transfer plan revealed after ‘cooling’ interest in 139-goal striker

Manchester City have chosen against pursuing a late move to sign Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.

The 29-year-old had emerged as a potential replacement for Julian Alvarez at the Etihad Stadium, after Manchester City approved the club-record sale of the Argentinian forward to Atletico Madrid in a deal totalling €95 million.

Alvarez was directly involved in 32 goals in 54 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side last season, with the additional absence of Oscar Bobb due to a long-term leg injury forcing Manchester City bosses to consider signing attacking reinforcements.

Erling Haaland missed a number of matches across December and January due to injury last season, with the Sky Blues currently having no back-up should the Norway international be sidelined for any period of time during the 2024/25 campaign.

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi and FC Copenhagen’s Orri Oskarsson have been mooted as potential back-up options, although the surprise addition of Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer has led to Etihad bosses abandoning plans to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

Gundogan re-signed for Manchester City last week, and featured as a substitute during Saturday’s 4-1 win over Ipswich Town in the Premier League, with fellow summer signing Savinho also making his home debut.

Gundogan and Savinho are set be Guardiola’s only signings of the summer, with Manchester City ‘highly unlikely’ to complete any further business, according to Paul Hirst.

Etihad bosses have ‘cooled’ interest in Celtic striker Furuhashi, choosing to stick with the present first-team squad and revert to the false-nine system in the absence of Haaland, revealed the journalist.

Furuhashi scored 19 goals in 50 appearances for Celtic last season, with Manchester City having opted against bidding to sign the Japanese international during the closing hours of the summer window.

Manchester City also sold Liam Delap this summer, with the young English striker moving to Ipswich, and having started at the Etihad Stadium against Guardiola’s side last weekend.