Manchester City Strike Force For 2013/2014

Since the departure of Mario Balotelli in January speculation has been in the air as to if city would go for a name summer signing in the attacking area or simply promote John Guidetti. There is also much speculation over Edin Dzeko who in the closing weeks of the season many of the city faithful who stuck with the player lost patience.


Edin Dzeko who although top quality on his day flatters to deceive far too often and is often cited as not having the dedication and work rate on the pitch of others. Highlights such as the four goals in the 1-5 win at White Hart Lane against Tottenham in August 2011 have not come often enough. While inconsistent it could be cited that Dzeko’s lack of consistency could be down to city not playing to his strengths. It is claimed by so called experts and fans alike that Dzeko would thrive in a team of wingers with a more direct style. During his time at City the only real traditional wingers the club have had were Adam Johnson and this past season Scott Sinclair. Johnson only having moderate success before moving on to Sunderland last summer and Sinclair finding himself a rarely used bit part player.

Since Dzeko’s arrival at the club city have developed a narrow game based on possession and retention of the ball with the width normally only coming from attacking full backs. If as expected Manuel Pellegrini becomes the next boss of Manchester City I imagine a forward line based on highly fluid and mobile strikers interchanging positions, again Dzeko would be suited to a more direct style in my opinion. Don’t get me wrong I rate Edin as a player and in the right system i think he’d be a success, he deserves respect given his goal rate of 28 goals in 53 games for Bosnia. Also considering his City career of important goals such as the winner at Blackburn in April 2011 that helped us gain champions league football for the first time,t he 2 goals in the 1-6 at Old Trafford and the dramatic equaliser against Q.P.R on the final day of the 2011/12 season moments before city went on to record their 3-2 win thus winning the title. I admire Dzeko and wish him well but i don’t think he’ll be with us next season.

Carlos Tevez is a man who still divides opinion. On one hand theres the guy who has caused huge controversy in his time at city by walking out on the club and going on a self- imposed excile back home in Argentina.While we don’t know the full details of what happened with Tevez and the city coaching staff at the time, no matter whose fault it was, the player did indeed go on a strike at a time when the working class fan is having to suffer through the worst economic times in a century. Ask any blue and most would tell you they would give there right arm to play for the club they love. There have been other issues to Tevez’s career rightly or wrongly that he was involved in such as the third party ownership that caused West Ham United massive financial unrest.However there is also a much brighter side to Tevez’s career to consider. The man who has scored 73 goals in 138 games for City, a player with an incredible work rate on the pitch, a man who has great understanding with Sergio Aguero and also his interchanging and link play with Aguero, Nasri and Silva. However the important thing to consider in all of this is that in the summer of 2014 Tevez has his contract finish with City. While the club consider his future and if to give him a new deal, we must also recognise that as we enter the era of Financial Fair Player this will also be our last chance to cash in on a player who is arguably our highest earner along with Yaya Toure and could leave on a free a year from now.

So we have established that since Mario has left us there are also huge question marks over two of our forwards .In a time where city seem to be linked with a new player every day I’m going to briefly look at and profile some potential forwards to wear the blue of city.

Player: Edinson Cavani
Club: Napoli
Age: 26

Profile: In who appears to be City’s number 1 forward in terms of targets the club faces a battle from Real Madrid, PSG and Chelsea for his signature. An advantage in city’s favour may be to offer Edin Dzeko in part exchange. A player both the Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis and new coach Rafa Benitez are rumoured to like. A player who is known for his impressive quality of goals scoring a lot from outside the box while also being remembered for spectacular overhead kicks while I personally most remember the half volley from outside the box vs Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the Europa League. Cavani has scored a very impressive 153 goals in 285 games in his career with 104 in 138 coming for Napoli.

Player: Luis Suarez
Club: Liverpool
Age: 26

Profile: The controversial Liverpool forward is likely to leave Anfield this summer after recent remarks about the press forcing him out of the country. Now while this would likely rule out City would a change of club while remaining in the same league benefit him? A player who to me is very similar in style to Tevez and with Tevez possibly leaving Suarez could be a long term replacement. This is a player who was a candidate for player of the season until his shocking bite of Branislav Ivananovic’s arm against Chelsea on April 13th 2013. This incident resulted in
Suarez receiving a 10 game ban. While the player is a
class act in terms of talent, his level of class his in terms
of temperament make this unlikely.

Player:Christian Benteke 
Club:Aston Villa
Age:22

Profile: After an excellent debut season at villa with 23 goals in all competitions the top clubs of European football have been eagerly watching Benteke. A player who had some-what taken the league by surprise in dislodging Darren Bent from the Villa starting line-up. He was seen by his manager Paul Lambert to be more of an all-round player than Bent who is often seen as just a scorer without often enough helping in the all round play the way Benteke has. Interest in the player is rumoured to come from Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Tottenham which in turn has given the player a rumoured £40m price tag by his club. While this could likely be negotiated down to a more modest £20m+ question marks would likely remain on if the player is the level City need and if he is a ‘one season wonder’.

Player: Wayne Rooney
Club: Manchester United
Age: 27
Profile: In a move that would likely cause huge controversy with both sets of fans, once the storm had died down it would be a signing of huge impact. Such a signing would make a statement of intent by City but as well as helping city could also greatly reduce United’s chances of success. However while the player is rumoured to be unsettled a move to the Etihad would appear extremely unlikely with a move down south to Chelsea or even Arsenal as well as suitors abroad seemingly a better option.




Player: Zlatan Ibrahimovic 
Club: Paris St.Germain
Age: 31

Profile: A tremendous record of 6 titles with 7 clubs immediately brings attention to the legendary Swedish forward. In some ways similar to Edin Dzeko in terms of being some-what of a target man thats good in the air, Ibrahimovic also has tremendous vision, finishing and close-control. Who can forget his 35 yard over-head kick goal for Sweden against England in November of 2012? He is also the only player to score for 6 different clubs in the Champions League. Going against him though could be his age, at 31 how many years at the top does he have left? Also his wages at PSG are reportedly astronomical which could be a problem in the age of financial fair play ruling.


There were just a few names that I have considered in the striker market this summer. Some honourable mentions go to:
Jackson Martinez (Porto)
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
Also not forgetting the one who got away Radamel Falcao now of Monaco.

While both Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez could stay it has been good to explore the possible alternatives that the club may pursue. Thank you for reading and be sure not to miss any of the exciting transfer news as summer and in some cases silly season is here once again.

By Wes Vellam @wesvellam83 on twitter