Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has claimed that Manchester City are in need of a prolific goalscorer like Harry Kane after their opening day defeat.
As reported by the Daily Star, Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness has claimed that Premier League champions Manchester City cannot go another season without a proper striker and need to sign Harry Kane after their defeat to Tottenham.
Manchester City made an inauspicious start to the defence of their Premier League title as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham away from home on Sunday evening. A Son Heung-min strike in the 55th minute was enough to guarantee the Lilywhites, sans Kane, a well-deserved victory in what was new manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s first competitive game in charge.
Manchester City hardly looked like threatening the Tottenham goal over the course of the game, lacking a threat in and around the box after having gone in with Ferran Torres in the No. 9 role. While the Cityzens got away with playing a false-nine last season when Sergio Aguero was out injured, Souness reckons that will not be the case this time around.
“Pep Guardiola is trying to buy Harry Kane from Spurs. Does he think he maybe got away with it last year and doesn’t think he can get away with it again without an obvious no. 9? Sergio Aguero, I think played just a dozen games last year, but you’ve got to have a 30 goal a season man if you are one of the big teams.
“Can he get away with it again? The fact he’s trying to buy Kane tells you he sees it that way as well,” the ex-Liverpool ace said.
Souness’ opinions were reciprocated by fellow pundit and former Manchester City defender Micah Richards, who insisted that the Mancunian outfit could still sign Kane before the transfer window closes.
“There were many times last season when we talked about Man City needing a striker. Gabriel Jesus is a very good player, but he’s never been on the same level as Aguero, unfortunately. A deal for Kane still might be done. A lot of people and fans are saying City needed a striker so why didn’t they go for Kane first and maybe Grealish after, but, even without a striker, they won the league by 12 points,” he said.
Manchester City have been hot on the trails of Kane all summer long but haven’t been able to taste success in their pursuit of the England captain. Guardiola himself has admitted that he is keen on signing the Tottenham star. Whether the defeat to the north Londoners accelerates their efforts to push the deal over the line remains to be seen.
