With plans A and B having failed,
Pep Guardiola has still to replace the departed Sergio Agüero in his attack
Cristiano Ronaldo has never thought of himself as a plan B but for
Manchester City that is just what he was. Everything was placed on Harry Kane being whisked away from
Tottenham for an acceptable fee for all parties but when that went up in smoke, Ronaldo was supposed to rise from the ashes to save the summer at the Etihad. Instead Pep Guardiola and the City hierarchy will be forced to rake the ashes in the hope they can salvage something.
The annoyance of missing out on Kane was one thing but the good fortune of Ronaldo seemingly falling in City’s lap and then slipping through could cause nightmares this season. City are short of a striker after the departure of the club’s record goalscorer Sergio Agüero in the summer and could end up being left behind by their rivals.