Not so sure on that one mate, specifically pure number 9s. They still exist in my opinion and can turn a good side into a elite one.
I look at sides and see how a 9 makes them ultra effective. Villa have it cracked, Kane we all know, Isaac looks a monster, Haaland is different altogether. Solanke has Bournemouth looking better. In the championship I look at Hardie at Plymouth and dream about him in our side. Then you have the likes of Sargeant, Rutter, Armstrong, Adams, Stewart, Vardy, Simms, Maja. Even the lad Gallagher at Blackburn showed us what a number 9 looks like. League has more than a few as well like Clarke-Harris, Colby Bishop, Charles, Leaburn, Collins. I watch Derby a bit and they play to a 9.
I dont think there is a lack of 9s, if you want one. Some sides though dont want to play that way. And it has become a little bit vogue to play with a false 9, like City and Arsenal have done. Liverpool to a lesser extent. In our case we just have bought poorly in the position recently. Time to go and be serious about it and if it were me I would bet everything on Hardie.
Hardie looked like Ross Stewart reborn when we played them last. Tailor-made replacement...if that wasn't an outlier of a performance... and I've personally not seen him play since.
unless my pal 