CFG scouts moot Manchester City transfer for MLS star after Julian Alvarez sale

Scouts representing the City Football Group (CFG) continue to monitor Charlotte FC and Colombia forward Kerwin Vargas amid interest from the Etihad Stadium, as per a new report.

CFG have an extensive scouting network across the globe that has bore fruit for officials at the Etihad Stadium since the Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008, which has revolutionised Manchester City as a club and attracted top-tier talent to England’s north-west.

The recent summer window saw the departure of Manchester City’s long-serving director of football Txiki Begiristain, with Hugo Viana stepping in and launching a full-throttle remake of Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad, which endured a difficult 2024-25 campaign marked by lacklustre finishes in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.

Several senior stars integral to Manchester City’s success over the years – including Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Ederson, Ilkay Gundogan and Scott Carson – all left in the summer after Viana and co conducted a thorough audit of the first-team roster.

Seven new signings were brought in over the course of a busy window at the Etihad Stadium, with Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders signed from Lyon and AC Milan to bolster Manchester City’s creativity in the attacking midfield areas following De Bruyne’s free transfer to Napoli amid doubts over Phil Foden’s form.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, James Trafford and Marcus Bettinelli were all signed to revamp Manchester City’s goalkeeping department, with Ederson completing a desired £12.1 million switch to Fenerbahce on the final day of the window.

Rayan Ait-Nouri has been signed from Wolves for £31 million to provide a long-term solution to Manchester City’s frailties at left-back, with 2023 signing Josko Gvardiol playing out of his natural centre-half position to provide a reliable option on the left side of defence in recent seasons.

However, City need to bolster their attacking areas further in the seasons to come to help alleviate the overwhelming burden on the shoulders of Erling Haaland, who is more than capable of taking the pressure in his stride but has seen expectations on him rise since Julian Alvarez was sold to Atletico Madrid for £82 million last summer.

CFG scouts are monitoring Charlotte FC and Colombia forward Kerwin Vargas in the Major League Soccer and have expressed an interest in bringing the 23-year-old to the Etihad Stadium in the years to come, as reported by TEAMtalk.

City have been over-reliant on Haaland to provide the goods in front of goal since Alvarez’s departure and despite the Norway international’s consistently impressive statistics, there will come a time over the course of a long-drawn, demanding schedule when the 25-year-old will need to be taken out of the starting XI.

Omar Marmoush, signed from Eintracht Frankfurt in January, can operate as number nine but City require a back-up striker suited to playing in the centre forward position, with Alvarez’s exit – albeit giving City a major financial windfall – leaving a gaping hole in Guardiola’s frontline.

Manchester City need as much attacking depth as they can get in their attack if they are to challenge Liverpool and Arsenal for the Premier League in the seasons to come and despite Haaland’s formidable talent and injury record since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund, it has never been a one-man show at the Etihad Stadium and Guardiola will know that.