Aguero leaves City: the why and the what now...

Manchester City announced today that their all-time leading goalscorer, Sergio Aguero, will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Aguero joins the list of high-profile recent departures such as Vincent Kompany and David Silva, and like them, has been honoured with a statue outside the Etihad befitting of his immense contribution to the club.

We take a look at why he leaving, what his next destinations might be and who City will look to replace him with.

Aguero signed in 2011 from Atletico Madrid and has since gone on to become Manchester City's all-time top goalscorer, with 257 goals in 384 appearances.

Why is he leaving?

Despite all of the records, the goals and the love of the fans, the truth is that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City simply don't need Sergio Aguero anymore.

As all have seen, City have swept aside considerable domestic and European opposition without a recognised striker for much of the season. Whilst Aguero's injuries and illness have played their part in that approach, Aguero has seen himself fall out of the first team even when fit.

Aguero has made just four league starts this season.

Clearly, Aguero wants to be playing regular football, whether that be at the highest levels of the European game or back in South America remains to be seen, but it is evidently time to move on to a fresh challenge.

Whilst there is plenty of space for sentimentality in football, it is not worth the reported £230,000 per week required to maintain it. Foden has waited long enough for his spot in the limelight, and City have not just coped, but soared without their record-breaking number 10.

What next for Aguero?

Bookies favour the romantic option of Barcelona - a reunion with fellow Argentine Lionel Messi to complete a front line that has looked unconvincing in Europe. Personally, I don't see it.

New President Joan Laporta has yet to reveal his transfer strategy, but I'd imagine he'll be keen to move away from what Barcelona have been doing in the last few years: paying outrageous sums of money for ageing players (think of Pjanic, Griezemann etc.).

Any interest in Aguero from Barcelona rests heavily on the transfer strategy employed by new president, Joan Laporta.

Make no mistake, if Aguero was to head to Spain, he'd demand a substantial wage packet. I'd really like to see Barcelona move away from the "galactico"-esque signings, lets face it, Real do it better - but that's an article for another day.

The papers follow a different line of enquiry - does a trip back to South America interest Aguero? Boca Juniors are in the market to partner Carlos Tevez, and despite Edinson Cavani's father stating his sons interest, Aguero could prove an interesting (and younger) option for them.

Could we see a strike force comprising of Aguero and Carlos Tevez at Boca next season?

Does he follow the Kompany/Silva path and head somewhere in between the highest level of European football and the South American sides? With respect to those players, I'm not convinced a Real Sociedad-level side is good enough for Aguero - if he stays fit, he is still one of the most lethal strikers in the world today.

I like the idea of a return to Atletico, which seems the most romantic option of all, but they may want to avoid a repeat of the Diego Costa situation there.

Atletico Madrid is another option for Sergio Aguero, should the club be happy to re-sign him.

I wouldn't put it past a club like Chelsea to test the waters with him, although a move away from the Premier League is far more likely given his love for Manchester City - still, stranger things have happened...

Juventus are ever the kings of the free-transfer, but they would need to shift Ramsey (maybe Rabiot too) in order to prepare a good enough package for the Argentine.

Wherever he goes, I am sure he will succeed - both commercially via shirt sales for his new club and on the pitch with bagfuls of goals.

Never rule out the surprise retirement either - his injury history is seemingly getting worse every season and Aguero may wish to call it a day on a glittering career - that would be very Cantona wouldn't it?

Who do City replace him with?

Naturally, when discussing Manchester City almost no name is off the table.

Erling Haaland is the obvious candidate, I really have no words for how mouth-watering a concept that is for City, and how worrying that would be for the rest of the Premier League.

Erling Haaland is likely to be the subject of intense interest from a host of European clubs, including City.

Romelu Lukaku is the other name being thrown around, and I actually feel he would be the better fit for Pep's side. Lukaku is far more than the target man he is made out to be, and whilst Haaland is already a world-beater at such a young age, it is well documented that Pep likes a certain personality, professionalism and experience-level in any potential candidates over natural talent and arrogance (look at how Zlatan Ibrahimovic was discarded by Pep after just a few months at Barcelona).

Lukaku has all of that, and now has a really good understanding of a different league as well as being a proven Premier League goalscorer.

Romelu Lukaku could return to England and Manchester if the reports are to be believed.

Anyone who thinks he holds any loyalty to Manchester United is kidding themselves, I am certain Lukaku would jump at the chance to head to the Etihad, as he should.

The press have also linked Danny Ings with Guardiola's side, and whilst it is obvious that he would succeed there, it would require a mouth-watering amount of money to prise him away from Southampton, who have proved over the years that they stick to their price-tags.

For that kind of money you may as well look at the more "elite" options in Lukaku and Haaland.

I wouldn't rule out a move for England captain Harry Kane, who seems more likely to leave Spurs by the minute, but again, even for City, the sums involved in a deal like that would be extraordinary.

England internationals Harry Kane and Danny Ings are also being touted as candidates for Aguero's replacement.

There seems to be no concept of City simply not replacing Aguero, which seems just as likely to me as it does that they would sign someone. Whilst City are famed for their seemingly inexhaustible supply of funds, do not underestimate the impact Covid-19 has had on them, or any other club.

They have proven that they do not need a striker, and they have Jesus as an option should the situation truly require one, but do City have the capability for a super-transfer this summer? Only they know...