Sergio Agüero is Manchester City's all-time record goalscorer, but another injury-hit season has left Pep Guardiola questioning whether to extend the club legend's contract.

After contracting COVID-19 early in the season, the Argentine striker hasn't featured in the starting eleven regularly in 2020/21 and with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Ferran Torres impressing through the middle, there may be no place for the ageing centre forward next season. Here are five strikers who should be considered this summer.

  • Erling Haaland

This one is pretty obvious. The Norwegian wonderkid is breaking records left right and centre, including becoming the player to hit 20 Champions League goals the quickest - in just 14 games.

After breaking through at RB Salzburg alongside Liverpool's Takumi Minamino, Erling Haaland moved to Borussia Dortmund as BVB bid to close the gap to Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. If anything, though, the gap between the two clubs has grown and the teenager stormed off the pitch after their 2-2 draw with FC Köln at the weekend.

His price tag continues to go through the roof, however, and it will likely be the case of whoever pays the most gets the player. City could wait until his £65m release clause comes into play in 2022, but every major club in the world will be activating that, so why not pay £70m-£80m to make sure you get one of the hottest prospects in football?

  • Memphis Depay

The Dutchman has finally got his career back on track, enjoying a brilliant few years at Lyon. Yet to beat PSG to the Ligue 1 title, Memphis Depay's side are closer than ever this season, but their chairman has already accepted that their talisman is on his way out on a free transfer this summer.

His time at Manchester United would make this a controversial move and they would have to fend off favourites Barcelona for his signature, but with one of the best squads - and managers - in the world, the Cityzens are an attractive proposition for any player. Given Barca's reported financial troubles, surely they couldn't match City's contract offer, but is working with Ronald Koeman again too much to beat?

  • Alassane Pléa

Back to the German Bundesliga now, and Alassane Pléa is another forward enjoying the season of his life - as signified by his call ups to the French national team. Borussia Mönchengladbach may not have caused Pep's men too many problems in their recent Champions League tie, but impressed massively in the group stages as the knocked out Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

With the ability to play in any of the front three positions, Pléa's versatility sets him apart from other strikers and makes the Frenchman ideal for Guardiola's style of play, with forwards often required to rotate across the frontline effortlessly during games.

What's more, at 28, he's older than most of the market and will therefore come with a lower price tag - probably a third of what Kylian Mbappé would cost. With likely only one major transfer left in his career, Pléa will be open to offers and Gladbach may have to be, too.

 

  • Jonathan David

After hitting 30 goals over two seasons in the Belgian top flight as a teenager, Jonathan David earned a move to title-chasing Lille as Victor Osimhen's replacement for the Ligue 1 outfit. 

Although not a clinical goalscorer, David is yet to be given the opportunity at a 'big' club and with world class service from Kevin de Bruyne, the Canadian striker could be an outside bet to make the move to the Etihad.

He would likely be used as a squad player as back up for Jesus, but with a keen eye for goal and lightning pace, David would be a shrewd acquisition. 

  • André Silva

André Silva has dropped under the radar in recent years, but has well and truly impressed at Eintracht Frankfurt this season. With 21 goals in 24 league games and 1 in 2 in the DFB-Pokal, his 2020/21 record is up there with the very best in the world. 

Having broken onto the scene at Porto, Silva swapped his home country for Italy. He spent a year at AC Milan and was then was loaned to Sevilla and Frankfurt before making the move to Germany permanent last year. Despite only spending less than twelve official months at Die Adler,  the Portuguese international looks more than ready to return to a giant.

Oh and, don't forget, he's been learning from the greatest goalscorer in the history of football - Cristiano Ronaldo - since 2016. He definitely knows where the goal is.

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