Manchester City have joined the queue of clubs tracking Club Brugge's Nicolo Tresoldi, with scouts sent to run the rule over the 22-year-old.
The reality of Enzo Maresca's squad is that Erling Haaland remains the only senior out-and-out striker. Antoine Semenyo and Phil Foden can fill in, in their own ways, and Floyd Samba has led the line twice this season. But that is cover by improvisation, not design.
According to Graeme Bailey of TeamTalk, City had representatives watching Tresoldi in action for Club Brugge. Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United were also represented at the same fixture. The report describes City's interest as a case of due diligence, with the club keeping an eye on promising young players as part of their recruitment strategy.
What the scouts saw was a hat-trick. Tresoldi scored three as Brugge beat Sint-Truidense 3-2, taking his tally for the season to 12 goals in 14 matches across all competitions.
At 22, he fits the profile of a player whose best years are ahead of him. He is a two-footed finisher, strong in the air and capable of receiving the ball and holding up possession — attributes that would make him a different option to Haaland rather than a straight clone.
Whether City's interest develops beyond watching is another matter. For now, the shortlist of names being monitored is growing, and the lack of a specialist alternative to Haaland is a gap that will need addressing at some stage.