The striker will play no part against Leicester City as Real ramp up their interest (Picture: Getty)

Sergio Aguero is closer than ever to leaving Manchester City as Real Madrid prepare a January offer for the Argentine striker, according to reports in Spain.

The forward has been in superb form for the Citizens yet again this season, scoring 13 times, though is no longer the undisputed first-choice striker at the club since Gabriel Jesus arrived from Palmeiras.

And, according to Spanish television show El Chiringuito, Aguero now wants to leave City having fallen out with Pep Guardiola, and Real are poised to offer him an escape route.

Aguero is pining for a transfer as he is not Guardiola’s No.1 choice up front (Picture: Getty)

Although Aguero was picked ahead of Jesus to take on Tottenham, he was left out of the starting XI for the Manchester derby – something that did not sit well with him.




That decision still grates on him and he fears he will never be appreciated by Guardiola, while Real have been alerted to his unhappiness.

When he was substituted early in the second half against Spurs, he threw his gloves on the ground in frustration and did not speak or even look at Guardiola as he made his way to the bench.

Guardiola on Aguero's reaction to being subbed ‘That’s normal – I understand. He wants to play but at that moment I needed a little more energy with Gabriel in that position. I don’t want to hurt the players. I understand, I was a football player and I know they want to play. It always breaks my heart when the players cannot play because they deserve it. But it is what it is.’

Real are in need of a new striker, having had tentative inquiries for Harry Kane and Mauro Icardi dismissed out of hand, and Florentino Perez is ready to test City’s resolve to keep a player who is not particularly highly rated by Guardiola.

Aguero would welcome a move back to Madrid, where he spent five years with city rivals Atletico, and Perez is preparing an opening offer of £62 million.

Aguero started against Spurs, but tossed aside his gloves in frustration at being subbed (Getty)

Interestingly, Aguero will not be part of the Manchester City squad that faces off against Leicester City on Tuesday night for a place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, despite having played 90 minutes in the last round.

He wished his teammates good luck for the match on Instagram, and is believed to have been nursing a heel injury for much of the season.

According to the Daily Mail, it requires daily treatment though is manageable, and it is not yet known if the injury is the reason for his omission from Tuesday’s squad or whether it relates to his current unhappiness at the club.