Manchester City have reportedly lined up a Scottish Premier League star as a potential replacement for Julian Alvarez. 

The champions have narrowed down their shortlist to two strikers, with a younger forward joining the SPL marksman. 

Alvarez's £81million switch to Atletico Madrid has been one of the most surprising moves of the summer given his youth and importance to the City operation.

The 24-year-old World Cup winner played the fifth-most minutes of any City player last season and scooped up six trophies in two-and-a-half years at the Etihad.

He expressed frustration at being left out of City's biggest matches and the club are hunting for somebody who is willing to accept a squad role. 

Man City have reportedly honed in on an SPL star as a possible replacement for Julian Alvarez

The Athletic reports that City are keen on Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi, 29, and a younger forward. Furuhashi is eager to join them. 

Kyogo joined Celtic in July 2021 for £4.5m and has scored 73 goals in 153 appearances for them, winning the Scottish Premiership each season and four domestic cups.

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A major issue to consider is that Kyogo could be having surgery for a long-standing shoulder problem. 

That surgery would see him sidelined for four months. 'I think he’s had this for a long time, long before he came to Celtic,’ said Brendan Rodgers. 

‘I believe it’s something he’s had in Japan where he’s just managing a shoulder issue and, from time to time, it gets a little bit irritable and a little bit sore. He could have surgery, but it takes him out for probably about four months. It’s only him that can decide that.'

Ange Postecoglou brought him from Vissel Kobe in his native Japan and was effusive in his praise about him.

'I’ve said it a few times, from the moment this guy arrived he’s been outstanding,' he said after Furuhashi scored a brace against Rangers. 

'He gives everything in every game he plays, he’s a threat. If he doesn’t score a goal he works so hard for the team. He delivers in the big games. He’s a winner.

'I’d experienced him first-hand in Japan as an opponent, which I didn’t enjoy.

'I knew what he had to bring, not just as a player but as a person. He’s outstanding.' 

Another time, Postecoglou described Furuhashi's movement as 'the best I've ever seen'.

Sufficiently replacing Alvarez, who has signed a six-year deal with Atletico, is a tall order. 

The fact that he commanded a £81m fee shows his standing in the game and finding a player of a similar quality who will be happy to sit out in major matches is an unenviable task.