Could Lautaro Martinez be the ‘new Sergio Aguero’?

In an interview with Italian broadcaster Sky Sport Italia on Wednesday evening, former Inter striker Hernan Crespo, believes Chelsea and Barcelona target Lautaro Martinez shares many qualities with prolific Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero.

The 22-year-old Argentine marksman is enjoying a prolific campaign with Inter Milan having managed 11 goals in 22 league games under Antonio Conte.

Argentina legend Hernan Crespo feels with Manchester City centre-forward Sergio Aguero entering his twilight years, Martinez could ultimately fill the void he’d eventually leave behind.

“We know Mauro Icardi and Paulo Dybala, while we’re getting to see what Lautaro Martinez can do. Lautaro could well be the new Sergio Aguero. He’s not as sharp in his dribbling, but he is more of a team player than Kun, who too often gets distracted and looks disinterested.” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“Lautaro is always participating in the move, so he can play as a lone centre-forward or with another striker like Romelu Lukaku, even in a trident. I really like his mentality.”

Lautaro  joined the Nerazzurri from boyhood club Racing Club in July 2018. Martinez  and has gone on to register 25 goals across 66 matches. Before the suspension of the 2019/20 Serie A season, his performances weren’t going unnoticed with Barcelona reportedly keeping close tabs on him.

Inter are reluctant to part with a 22-year-old who has much potential still to be unlocked, but it may be that their hand is forced. 

According to transfer expert McGarry via Transfer Window podcast., Manchester City are willing to let Sergio Aguero leave the club if they can replace him with Argentina team-mate Lautaro Martinez. And talks have begun over a potential swap deal that will see Aguero head to Inter Milan and be replaced by Martinez.

Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Martinez’s agent said his client is firmly focused on his career at Inter

He said: “He treats it [the speculation] as if it is nothing, because he is only focused on his club. But surely there is great satisfaction knowing that he is doing things well. Lautaro has a five-year contract with Inter and the news that comes out is exclusively generated by the press.”