Man City's 'Erling Haaland backup plan revealed' after £60m transfer | OneFootball

City now have just one striker after summer clearout

Manchester City have a backup plan for if Erling Haaland gets injured.

City now have just one recognised senior striker on their books after the departure of Omar Marmoush to Tottenham, with the Egypt international moving to north London on an initial loan.

That deal will eventually become permanent, in the region of £60million, and as such, the former Frankfurt man will not return to the Etihad Stadium.

Enzo Maresca’s side did not replace Marmoush, and as such, they have been left with Haaland as their only central striking option going into the season.

The transfer deadline has passed, with City making two additions on Deadline Day, but both came in the form of midfielders.

Top striker: Antoine Semenyo

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Iliman Ndiaye was landed from Everton for £65m, while late on, they equalled the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for £125m to end one of the summer’s longest transfer sagas.

Despite their lack of depth at centre-forward, the Independent reports that Maresca has a backup plan for if he needs to rest Haaland, or if the Norway international gets injured.

That comes in the shape of Antoine Semenyo, who has previously been fielded as a central striker, but the Ghanaian prefers playing out wide.

Semenyo has sparkled since his January arrival from Bournemouth last season, and he has made himself a regular starter in City’s lineup.

The 26-year-old has started all three competitive games under Maresca so far this term, and Ndiaye’s arrival will supply competition out wide for the Ghanaian, as well as Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden.

Ndiaye’s signing will also mean that should Haaland need a rest, then Semenyo can shfit from the flank into the middle and lead the line himself.