Former Manchester City player Nigel De Jong has backed Harry Kane to fill the void left by Sergio Aguero at the Etihad.
Aguero was allowed to join Barcelona on a free transfer at the end of his City contract.
That’s left Pep Guardiola searching for a new striker, with Kane and Erling Haaland the most likely solutions.
Speaking about City’s striker hunt, De Jong told the PA news agency: “It all depends on what Pep is really looking for.
“We’ve been talking about a striker that City is missing but knowing Pep he just played with a false nine the whole season again.
“It’s all about what he really wants in his team and what he thinks that it’s giving this team. This little bit more energy and a little bit more quality up front.
“Of course the loss of Sergio Aguero, for me, is huge – not only as a player but also as a person in the dressing room.
“It’s quite clear you have to fill that gap, I think with a striker. Could it be Harry Kane? Could it be even (Erling) Haaland? That’s also a possibility.”
Recent reports suggested a £100million bid had been made for Kane. But the England striker shunned those claims on Saturday by saying he has had no contact with Spurs over a move.
De Jong continued: “There’s certain areas, certain positions that he [Pep] will think to boost up during the season or during the summer.
“But of course Harry Kane is a great player for City and also in the Premier League. He knows the Premier League, he has experience in the Premier League.
“I think he will slot right in in that squad, but nothing is done yet.
“This is all speculation and rumour and so on, so we just have to wait to see what the owners are going to do.”