After Haaland signed for Man City, who are the best young number 9 strikers that big clubs should sign?

Tuesday’s announcement that Borussia Dortmund‘S Erling Haaland yes agreed a move of 60 million euros arrive City of Manchester This summer races around the world. But it is no coincidence that the transfer of the number 9 striker has attracted such intense speculation in both mainstream media and social networks. A club’s centre-back often makes the difference in a game, certainly at the end of an attack, but also gives the defense a breather by winning and saving free-kicks (in among other things).

The number 9 position has long since moved from being just a shirt number and is now a general concept for a range of players to be thrown in. The basic definition is “a physically fit central attacking player” who carries some expertise in scoring, defending and receiving the ball, and has some sort of aerial prowess. While modern trends have seen senior managers like Pep Guardiola favor the “fake 9” – a creative, movement-driven player like Lionel Messiwho can open space for wide attackers in central areas and act as a focal point to weave attacks together – rather than as a “target” for teammates to aim for , it seems that most top coaches would rather have a “true number nine” than play without.

The problem is that the wide range of skills required for the position are often not fully developed until a player’s 20s. At 21, Haaland is shaping up to be an outlier – although some do. Arguably he still needs to work on his game keeping his strength – but as he scores almost one goal per game (85 goals in 88 games at Dortmund), it’s a trade-off you can make. accept.

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Real Madrid‘S Karim Benzema and Bayern Munich‘S Robert lewandowski has proven time and time again that a quality, experienced centre-back guarantees goals, and that advantage can be difficult to cultivate from players of another class.

There’s a reason City are said to have spent most of last summer working on bringing in Tottenham Harry Kane – whose ability to pick the right space to rotate the ball from deep positions has almost seen him invent his own “9 and a quarter” category. (To illustrate the difference in style, Kane touches the ball an average of 25 times per game, while Haaland usually hits 15-16.) That’s also why. Juventus moved to sign Fiorentina‘S Dusan Vlahovic for 70 million euros against their rivals in January.

So with Haaland leaving the Premier League, who is the next No. 9 is likely to be targeted by rivals trying to keep up with free spending – and coming, they hope, free-scoring – Manchester City ?

Despite being right-footed and preferring to operate from a wide starting position on the left, Uruguay International displays some similarities number 9 with Haaland. Both thrive when running behind defences, and both are extremely difficult to deal with in physical challenges or at top speed.

Nunez, who arrived in Benfica for a surprising €24 million transfer from Almeria in the summer of 2020, has experienced an incredible period of development, especially since the start of the year. With 26 goals in 28 games in the Portuguese league this season, he offers plenty of options: He can chase a long ball overhead to show his speed in front of defenders (he He scored such a goal in the derby with Sports CP), can make smart runs to catch crosses, launch accurate long-range shots, and occupy a good position on both defense and attack.

Nunez is definitely at the top of his game and the powerful 22-year-old certainly looks like he can handle a step up to one of Europe’s top leagues, with links to Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Lautaro was originally a “second striker” or “support striker”, who has gradually moved into a more central position. His finishing skills, coupled with his ability to defend the ball and create chances in a third of the final, contributed to the coaches wanting him to play closer to goal.

The style is a bit similar to Argentina compatriot Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, the 24-year-old has an instinctive, “street footballer” style of play, with quick technique and a low center of gravity. At 5 feet-9, he’s not a traditional number 9 striker, but he wins a respectable 38% in mid-air duels.

Although he sometimes wastes in front of goal and tends to score consecutively, Lautaro is increasingly scoring (19 goals in Serie A this season) and he could be available in the summer transfer window when Inter Milan seek to correct their financial situation.

Possibly the best candidate for the classic number 9 card, for exampleChelsea The striker has a balanced game, plus the advantage of physical strength and ability to fight. Abraham has settled well in Serie A and looks like a more solid player now – he makes better decisions and appears more focused – than he did a year ago.

When watching England internationally, he is clearly a player who has been working hard to improve his weaknesses. His total of 15 league goals is more than four Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner (two strikers prevented him from getting enough minutes to stay at Stamford Bridge), and although Roma certainly want to keep him, his performances have attracted the interest of several Champions League clubs.

Despite spending a lot of time in the treatment room during his first two years in Italy, Osimhen has netted 27 goals and nine assists from his 60 games at the club to date. His combination of speed, directness, and finishing skills make him a regular threat and give him a prized assertiveness in a No. 9. The next challenge for 23-year-old player is to practice the ability to hold the ball and appear. less likely to be separated from teammates during gameplay building phases.

The Nigeria the international is at his best when the ball is played in the back to allow him to run over goal, but when there is little space behind the defence (unless he comes at the end of the pass), he has the tendency to struggle to impose yourself on a game. However, with Napoli paying 70 million euros to sign him from Lille in July 2020, and with three years left on his contract, he probably won’t be cheap for any suitor.

An extremely talented central striker who, after years of trying at clubs like SampdoriaRome and RB Leipzig, finally showing his full potential. Second to Lewandowski in the Bundesliga goalscoring table, Schick – who scored a beautiful long shot for Czech Republic compare to Scotland was voted Euro 2020 Goal of the Year last summer – 24 goals in 26 games (his target is not penalized 0.70 speaks volumes about efficiency; while Haaland’s is 0.67.)

Although injuries have plagued the left-footed striker for the past few years, scouts have always agreed that if Schick starts to score consistently, he could become one of the top centre-backs in the world. It’s clear that his running and finishing time (usually one-touch, sometimes spectacular half-passes and volleys) has taken it to new heights this season. Despite being adept at the traditional number 9 skills – holding, blocking and tackle – for a 6-foot-3 man, he is also surprisingly efficient at making runs behind the line. defensively, although without the mobility he has. basic strength.