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After a lot of speculation, the Harry Kane saga has finally ended, as the Englishman announced that he will be staying at Tottenham Hotspur this summer.
Manchester City have been tracking him for a while now, even making a €150 million bid for the striker. With Pep Guardiola admittedly a big fan of Kane, it was no surprise he was on the list of wanted players alongside Jack Grealish, who completed his move from Aston Villa earlier in the transfer window.
With Daniel Levy being a tough negotiator and Kane being the face of Tottenham Hotspur right now, City have been told to stop their pursuit of the English captain. Considering Sergio Aguero's recent departure for Barcelona, City are very much in need of an out-and-out striker.
Let's take a look at four alternatives to Harry Kane for Manchester City.
#4 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | Arsenal
Football fans were met with surprise as many news outlets reported Manchester City's interest in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon striker has been at Arsenal for the past three years, becoming the club's captain in the process. Undoubtedly one of Arsenal's most important players, Aubameyang has experienced a rough patch over the past few months.
Having started out excellently, Aubameyang went on to impress Premier League viewers with his goalscoring prowess. Aubameyang even won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019, cementing his place as one of the league's best attackers.
There is no doubt Aubameyang would be a formidable addition to the City squad. Adept at making runs into the box, Aubameyang would certainly flourish with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish playing behind him.
However, with less than a week left until the closure of the transfer window, the likelihood of this transfer is certainly on the lower side.
#3 Dusan Vlahovic | Fiorentina
Dusan Vlahovic has become a household name ever since the opening of the transfer window.
The Fiorentina man was hugely impressive last season, scoring 21 goals in 37 Serie A appearances. Born in Belgrade, the Serbian started his career with Partizan before moving to Fiorentina.
The Serbian youngster has garnered admiration from several top clubs in Europe and could secure a big-money move in the coming days. Considering he is still only 21, he offers great value for the investment.
While Tottenham Hotspur have themselves been interested in the 21-year-old, they will no longer need him after Harry Kane's decision to remain at the club. With the door open for Vlahovic's transfer, it remains to be seen who will capitalize and sign the young striker.
#2 Erling Haaland | Borussia Dortmund
Erling Haaland is one of the best attackers in football right now.
The 21-year-old signed for Borussia Dortmund just last year and has hit the ground running since. Haaland already has otherworldly goalscoring numbers, with many touting him as a generational footballer.
Haaland received several offers before ultimately signing with Dortmund in 2020. Since then, his stock has increased exponentially, with many clubs showing real interest in the Norwegian.
Displaying a no-nonsense attacking style, Haaland has already racked up 62 goals and 18 assists in just 63 appearances for Dortmund. However, reports increasingly suggest that a move for the youngster is out of the question for this window.
While the move is unlikely to see fruition over the next week, there is no doubt about the youngster's goalscoring pedigree. Widely regarded as "the next big thing," Haaland is certainly an option to consider for the future.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo | Juventus
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the shock names to have been linked with Manchester City.
Arguably one of the greatest players in football history, Ronaldo has enjoyed several successful years in England, Spain and Italy. Having moved to Juventus from Real Madrid in 2018, the Portuguese's stint with the Old Lady has been described as a mixed bag.
Ronaldo won two consecutive Serie A titles with Juventus in his first two years, but their run came to an end this year after Inter Milan took home the trophy. While Ronaldo has broken several personal records and put up outstanding numbers, the internet was rife with rumors of his desire to seek a new club.
Although Ronaldo has yet to comment on any of the links, there have been reports that he was offered to City for €25 million. Considering his goalscoring pedigree and City's immediate requirement for a striker, Ronaldo most definitely fits the bill.
His past experience in the Premier League, outstanding fitness levels and understanding of the game are just a few reasons why the Manchester club would benefit from his signing.
It is, of course, considered high treason to sign for City after having played for Manchester United, but we still have about a week to see how things pan out.
Considering that Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona was previously unthinkable but still happened, it is fair to say nothing is improbable when it comes to transfer business.
