According to reports, incoming Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana could make his “first big signing” as an “ideal replacement” for Erling Haaland.
Viana, currently Sporting Lisbon’s sporting director, is widely regarded as the frontrunner to replace Man City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, who is set to step down at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently weighed in on why Viana is the “big favourite” for the job, explaining: “He’s done an excellent job in Portugal, signing players like Viktor Gyokeres and Ousmane Diomande, so he’s a very talented director. Contacts are already ongoing, and Viana has a very good chance of becoming a key figure behind the scenes at Manchester City.”
Romano also emphasized the challenge of replacing Begiristain, calling him “one of the best in history” for his work at Barcelona and Manchester City. However, Romano expressed confidence in City’s ability to find a suitable successor, with Viana looking like a strong candidate.
Viana could be busy soon, with speculation that Pep Guardiola’s possible departure next year might lead to other key players, including Haaland, leaving. Haaland, who has scored 101 goals in 108 appearances for City, is being linked with Barcelona, who are searching for a replacement for Robert Lewandowski. A report from Spain suggests Haaland’s exit would be “almost inevitable” if Guardiola leaves when his contract expires.
In light of this, Viana is reportedly keen on making Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres his “first star signing” for City. Gyokeres, who joined Sporting from Coventry City for around £15m in the summer of 2023, has been in outstanding form and is currently the top scorer in Europe. However, City may face competition from Barcelona, who also have Gyokeres on their radar as a potential replacement for Lewandowski.
Barcelona are reportedly considering selling Raphinha to raise funds, with a possible asking price of €90 million (£75m). Gyokeres, Haaland, and Alexander Isak are among the names Barcelona are targeting, while head coach Hansi Flick is said to prefer a move for Florian Wirtz or Jamal Musiala over Nico Williams.
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