The Search for a Goal-Scoring Winger

Heading into the end of 2024, across the entire squad Manchester City only has two players on 3 or more Premier League goals not named Erling Haaland. Those two players are Josko Gvardiol (4) and Mateo Kovacic (3). Both of them are not wingers or forwards, Kovacic isn’t an attacking midfielder let alone someone you’d expect to score. Even the three he has are the most in over a decade. It might be time for another reliable scorer to arrive in January or the summer window.

Not at all a great look when you compare those numbers to leader goal contributions at a similar point in the 21/22 season…

Current Options

Savinho (20) has arrived this season and through injuries to others been pushed into high expectations quicker than he should have. Similar to Jeremy Doku last season with how inconsistent Jack Grealish was on/off the pitch. But he’s had 2.1 npxG created for him, he should have scored a couple of goals but instead, he’s got none in the league.

Jeremy Doku (22) has had some injury issues this season but has scored two goals off of the 0.7npxG created for him. Promising debut season and now he’s expected to develop into a more consistent scorer/provider this year. He’s got the potential for it, shown that against Nottingham Forest after returning from injury. He’s not that player yet.

Oscar Bobb (21) picked up an injury in training ahead of the Chelsea (A) Premier League opener. Broke into the first team last season, looked excellent in the preseason, and turned up in the Community Shield, but hasn’t proven over a season he can deliver goals. Despite how confident I was he would be, he still might, but right now we can’t be certain. The injury to Bobb then had a knock-on effect on Savinho between the pressure to perform and the minutes demanded.

Jack Grealish (29) is either in the final year of his Manchester City career or he’s in the process of moving to a midfield role. Either way, he’s proven this season and last that he’ll not be a consistent performer for the team let alone a scorer.

Profile

Riyad Mahrez scored at least 12 goals every season he was playing for Manchester City. Raheem Sterling scored at least 10 goals every season he was playing the club. If there is one outstanding quality a new winger would need to have, it’s scoring goals. If you look across our set of wingers, not one of them is a consistent threat for attacking space in behind. It’s part of why Matheus Nunes has done so well in his recent run of games, he looks to make those runs behind the full-back and central defenders. That’s another factor to consider when looking for a new winger.

This summer, unless the club targets the player in January, a backup to Erling Haaland needs to arrive. There are several ways to tackle that problem which will be the subject of a future newsletter. But for our search for another winger, I think it’s important to consider players who can give the team an option of playing down the middle.

This player needs to be available at a reasonable fee, given how many other positions the club would need to look at in January and the summer transfer windows, you can’t overspend and prevent those other moves.

If our current squad has Savinho (20), Jeremy Doku (22), and Oscar Bobb (22) listed as the wingers, then we’ll be looking for a player older than them all or with much more experience at the same age. Age range of 20 - 26. Last of which is the standard expectations for players, to not have a significant injury history, and not be tied down to a huge contract.

Candidates

Unrealistic?

Anthony Gordon (23) has recently been tied down to a new long-term contract at Newcastle which rules him out. Bradley Barcola (22) would have been top of this list if he hadn’t moved to PSG already. Simon Adingra (22) seemed set for another step forward this season but has struggled to get many minutes. Kenan Yıldız (19) has a contract until 2029 so won’t be on the move, showed his promise against Manchester City in the Champions League. Rodrygo (23) remains unrealistic unless a significant change happens at Madrid.

Morgan Rogers (22) has shown peaks this season that few his age can match, although is a raw player and has yet to show the consistency in the league others have. Certainly not a consistent scorer right now. Contract until 2030 might be an issue. Rafael Leao (25) is ready for either a huge fee move or committing to Milan for several years. I just can’t see Manchester City doing a deal at the fee Milan would want for him.

Too Early?

Malick Fofana (19) has looked promising for Lyon this season but has some way to go in his development before a move to Manchester City. You can check out a great thread on him here. Eliesse Ben Seghir (19) is another player in Ligue 1 who’s impressed, scoring four goals and providing three assists in nine starts. Can play as a winger as well as an attacking midfielder but is probably best operating centrally. Depends on whether you think buying him this summer would be too early in his development. Adeyemi (22) is another winger from Dortmund, he had an incredible season for Salzburg 21/22 (19G, 4A) but hasn’t put it all together in the Bundesliga just yet. Six league goals in 22/23, three in 23/24, and two this season.

Wrong Type?

Kaoru Mitoma (27) would fall into this group for me, he’s too similar to some of our other options to play on the wing. With the difficulty of getting him out, you need someone of his age to come in and deliver goals right away. Not sure he’d do that.

Omar Marmoush (25) scored 12 goals in the Bundesliga last season, has already scored 13 this season, and is in the best form of his career. The most G+A in Europe’s Top Five Leagues (20). He’s threatening as a runner in behind, with his carries, dribbles, and movement into the box. He’d be on the list as a backup striker option rather than as a winger, he could play there, but you’re looking at someone doing a similar role to what Alvarez did in 23/24.

The Realistic Options?

Jamie Gittens (20)

Bundesliga 24/25: 10 starts, 874 minutes, 5 goals, 3 assists

He came through the Reading youth academy before moving to Manchester City for a couple of seasons and then to Dortmund to play first-team football. Has always been a promising talent but this season he’s starting to put it all together and could find himself making the England squad in 2025. If I was writing this last season, Gittens would be in the section above, too early, but he’s ready for the move now. 5 goals and 3 assists in the Bundesliga so far. There would be some level of risk baked into this move which is why you wouldn’t do this deal unless the fee is reasonable.

Nico Williams (22)

La Liga 24/25: 12 starts, 1,151 minutes, 1 goal, 3 assists

He has scored 5+ league goals in his last two seasons for Athletic Club but it was Euro 2024 that showed the world he’s already capable of playing for the best teams in the world. Scored against Georgia in the R16, and against England in the Final.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (23)

Serie A 24/25: 15 starts, 1,086 minutes, 5 goals, 3 assists

He has put together two seasons in Serie A scoring 11+ goals for Napoli and has already scored 5 this season. Has shown for Georgia he can be a match-winner by himself and for Napoli across three seasons now. There is just concern about doing a deal with Napoli as Manchester City have found out in the past but he’ll have two years left on his contract in the summer and was pushing for a move earlier this year.

Mohammed Kudus (24)

Premier League 24/25: 11 starts, 902 minutes, 2 goals, 1 assist

Has scored 10+ goals in a single season for Ajax, and scored 8 goals in the league last season for West Ham but hasn’t kicked on this season in a team that’s struggling. The rumored release clause of 85M seems too steep for Manchester City to pay compared with the other options on the list.

Antoine Semenyo (24)

Premier League 24/25: 15 starts, 1,298 minutes, 4 goals, 1 assist

As an outsider pick, Semenyo was brilliant for Bournemouth last season (8G, 2A) and continued that form into this season, especially against the ‘top six’. His intelligent pressing and defensive work rate make him stand out in comparison to other players on the list. Only Erling Haaland has taken more shots in the League than him (58).

Ademola Lookman (26)

Serie A 24/25: 11 starts, 871 minutes, 8 goals, 4 assists

Lookman is currently playing for Atalanta and after taking the long route he’s eventually become the proven top-quality winger he looked like coming through. Delivering for them in the Europa League Final 2024. Scoring 10+ league goals in back-to-back Serie A seasons and he’s already on 7 this season. With a contract that runs until 2026, if Manchester City wants a left winger that’s a proven scorer and in their prime Lookman is one option to look at. The concern in this move is whether the system at Atalanta is getting the best out of his skill set, which won’t be used by Guardiola. Half winger, half striker in the 3-5-2 under Gasperini.

Although the team is not in a great place right now, the young group of wingers excluding Grealish are here to stay and at the very least until other priorities have been rebuilt first. Oscar Bobb and Savinho will be capable of becoming everything needed down the right side of Manchester City. Whether it’s an injury or bad form right now, that will eventually pass for those two players and it will change opinions quite quickly.

Jack Grealish's time at Manchester City as a winger has come to an end and should be on the chopping block for a rebuild in the summer, especially when you factor in the wages/amortization costs that make a much-needed rebuild harder. Along with his age (29), he’ll be included in the group of players that should be moved on.

Jeremy Doku has shown plenty of promise in his first season, the value of his impact on the bench towards the end of the 23/24 season, and his relentless performance against Nottingham Forest a few weeks back. But he has to make improvements off the ball and with his final action, the latter I expect to come when the team has the midfield rebuilt. This season is meant to be his time to take another step forward and right now he’s not a guaranteed 10+ league goal scorer the team needs which means you need another left winger.

If there is no concern about spending a big fee on a new left winger, then my pick is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Proven 10+ league goal scorer, capable of being the talisman for his team in a league title win, has high shot volume, is creative enough to provide 10 assists, poses a threat in transition, and will attack space in behind. Only 23 but has two full, soon-to-be three seasons in the Serie A. Reliable in his minutes, starting 30+ league matches. Although City would have to deal with Napoli, who have been difficult in the past, Kvaratskhelia pushed to leave last summer and would only have two years left on his contract in the 2025 summer.

In case that move cannot happen I’d have two backup picks. With the current poor form of West Ham under their new manager, and ongoing reports about Mohammed Kudus being unhappy at the club, there could be a possibility of getting him out for a more reasonable £85M release clause reported last summer. A goal scorer and transition threat. If the club wanted to take a bigger risk and go early on a player showing promise this season, then Jamie Gittens from Dortmund would be my other backup pick.

Do you agree with the pick? Let me know which player would you sign this summer.

For other areas, Manchester City should be looking at when rebuilding the squad, check out this post linked below. 👇

If you want to listen to a podcast discussing the rebuild, then check out the latest episode of The Hub on the Ninety Three Twenty player linked below. Going through the problems and possible transfers to make with Euro Expert.