Manchester City have often been criticised for going on a splurge in the transfer market.
It’s a valid claim that the defending champions have gone overboard in acquiring players for exorbitant prices in the Pep Guardiola era. But, like all claims and criticism in football, this too comes with a pinch of hyperbole.
It’s true that City have broken the bank in the past few seasons, especially on the back-line. But they have done so strategically, with long-term plans in mind.
The system that City are building on and off the pitch reeks of sustainability and the investment is likely to pay dividends.
City have spent on players who would be a perfect fit in Guardiola’s system and are tactically versatile enough to take over whatever style a potentially new manager would like to incorporate.
Aymeric Laporte and John Stones were bought for a combined sum of about €130 million. Why? The system Guardiola wanted to employ required ball-playing centre-backs.
The fact that they have plied trades under the likes of Ernesto Valverde and Ronald Koeman means that they have enough in their quiver to survive in City’s system.
Both are 24-years old, of reasonable experience in Europe and have a long-running contract. Stones is tied to the club until 2022, whereas Laporte recently signed a contract which runs until 2025.
Bernardo Silva was roped in for a sum of €50m from Monaco and this calculated gamble has turned out brilliantly for City. Perhaps only Raheem Sterling would have the slightest of disagreements if one claims that the Portuguese has been their best player this season.
In an inflated market, €50m for potentially a top-tier midfielder is reasonable. Also, it’s worth noting that Silva is tied to the club until 2022 and if Guardiola’s words are anything to go by, the 24-year-old is here to stay for a very long time.
Bernardo Silva
Further, Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane were purchased for a combined total of €82.5m. Young players who display huge potential must be protected and polished before let into the wild and that’s what the duo are going through at the club.
Both players are not undisputed starters, but will undoubtedly form the core of the team in a few seasons. The former has earned a lot of minutes this season, purely by his exceptional performances while they latter is until second choice to a Sergio Aguero who is showing no signs of declining.
Again, Sane has a contract until 2021 and Jesus is tied until 2023.
The attributes of most of these players render them eligible to thrive in a slightly different tactical set-up, should Guardiola ever call it quits with City. In Silva, Sane and Jesus, the Sharks – exuberant left-back Benjamin Mendy’s nickname for his team-mates – have three players who are likely to step into the top-tier of players in a couple of years.
Leroy Sane
The only thing City desperately crave for now is a Fernandinho replacement. The Brazilian’s role in the team is crucial and often underrated.
The defending champions are now filling one position away from building a competitive squad with a strong core for the next five or six years.
Compare this to Chelsea’s, Manchester United’s, and Arsenal’s transfer activities and you will see how the latter clubs have done a poor job in the market.
Sure, City have spent more, but they are winning trophies and building a squad that will continue to fight for all trophies in the years to come, whereas those teams are nowhere close.
Chelsea have spent a total of €350m on Alvaro Morata, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater, Antonio Rudiger, Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Jorginho. Of all the players, Barkley, Jorginho and perhaps Rudiger are the only players who would qualify as good transfers.
Also, it’s clear that there is a huge mismatch between their manager’s philosophy and they type of players he has at his disposal.
Maurizio Sarri can be one of the best managers in Europe with the right squad, but Chelsea have not provided him with that. The transfer ban only makes matters worse for the struggling London club.
Maurizio Sarri
Coming to United, several of their transfers can be critiqued and it’s no surprise that despite the resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they are far from challenging for titles like they did under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Paul Pogba – despite the hefty fee – was a masterstroke, but coupling that by announcing Jose Mourinho as manager was yet another example of poor planning. Alexis Sanchez was roped in, when he was not needed and on the verge of an inevitable decline.
Romelu Lukaku has not worked out well either, again pointing fingers at the choice of manager United had in mind when buying the Belgian.
Paul Pogba
It’s puzzling how players like Phil Jones and Chris Smalling – with all due respect – have contracts running till 2023 and 2022, respectively. United need to think ahead in terms of stabilising their defence for the next few years. Eric Bailly has not clicked with the club and extending his contract could be questionable call.
Victor Lindelof needs a partner in defence that’s not Jones or Smalling – and the club must act quick.
Meanwhile, the Gunners have done well in strengthening their attack with the addition of Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but they too have been very poor with their planning.
Mesut Ozil had his contract extended recently, but his future at the club is all but over. Aaron Ramsey – their best player in the last five years or so – is leaving on a free transfer, albeit Unai Emery chose to withdraw a contract offer in November.
Alexandre Lacazette
Their defence is way too incompetent for a club that wants to be in the same tier as that of other clubs mentioned here. Yet the focus is, somehow, on overloading the midfield.
Liverpool are perhaps the only club that have done a marvellous job with their transfers and have a path set for the future. But the Reds too have broken their banks in the last couple of years.
Thy have spent just €100m less than what City have and Philippe Coutinho’s transfer to Barcelona has ensured that their balance sheet looks pretty.
Their squad is still not on par with that of City, but they are getting close and are on the right track. It’s no surprise that the only club that has rivaled City on the pitch are the ones that have rivaled them in the market.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk
Simply put, spending is in inevitable if a team wants to win trophies, especially in the Premier League.
And despite being criticised for the exorbitant spending, City – along with Liverpool – are the best examples of a competent board and product of forward-thinking and long-term planning.
