Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad.
The champions lost their ninth game in their last 12 matches in all competitions when they were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa on Saturday in the Premier League.
After Liverpool's 6-3 victory against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, City are now 12 points behind the league leaders, with the Reds also having a game in hand.
Prior to his side's loss against Villa, Guardiola himself wrote off his team's chances in the title race and it is difficult to disagree with his assessment given City are now seventh in the Premier League.
Fichajes report that the Citizens have identified Kudus as a key transfer target and are prepared to sanction an £80m deal for the West Ham United attacker.
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Kudus's profile
One of Kudus's greatest strengths is his versatility, with the 24-year-old comfortable operating across the forward line and in midfield, making him an excellent fit for the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool, who have been linked with the Ghanaian in the past.
The West Ham forward has made 45 progressive carries for the Hammers this season, and there are few players in the Premier League capable of carrying the ball at speed as well as him.
Considering City's ageing squad and the ease with which opponents have managed to bypass players such as Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic, Kudus could also significantly boost City's effectiveness out of possession.
However, one area of concern with the Ghanaian has been his lack of end product, with the attacker scoring just twice in his final 18 Premier League games of 2023-24.
It should be noted that Kudus is averaging 0.31 xG per 90 in the league this season - significantly more than the 0.19 xG per 90 he averaged last term - and this improvement would suggest that he is at least getting into more productive positions.
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Will Kudus be enough?
While Kudus would undoubtedly add to City's squad, it is unlikely that his signature would solve the champions' numerous issues.
Guardiola has dropped first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for Stefan Ortega, and centre-backs like John Stones and Manuel Akanji have routinely been exposed during counter-attacks.
Elsewhere, Rodri's absence in midfield has highlighted the team's over-reliance on the Ballon d'Or winner, but given the Spaniard is set to miss out for the rest of the season and is nearing his thirties, it would be wise for City to look for a future starter sooner rather than later.
Defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi has been linked to the club in the past, but getting him to leave his boyhood team Real Sociedad will be no easy task.
If City are to challenge for the Premier League title next term, they will need to make a number of additions to the squad in the January and summer transfer windows.
Lewis Nolan
