At the time of writing, Manchester City are all but guaranteed a top four spot and securing Champions League football once again. What is unknown at this moment in time is in which place City will be. This situation has dissipated somewhat for City fans, this is now normal, much like knowing that Uncle Tommy will turn up every Christmas Day, get drunk and fall face-first asleep in the trifle. You know it’s going to happen and now you look forward to it every year.
However, what is important to remember is that where City finish could very well dictate what happens this summer; a fourth place finish means that getting into the Champions League proper is by no way guaranteed (Arsenal barely made it through last year). It’s all very well going after Paul Pogba, but it could prove futile if he and City don’t know which competition they will be competing in.
Speaking of the Juventus midfielder, City should pull out all the stops to get him. It’s no secret that he is one of the most wanted names in European football at the moment and that he is unlikely to still be at the Italian club next season. The only question is: “where?”
At a possible €60m, it will be a significant outlay, but with the likes of Yaya Toure, Samir Nasri, and Steven Jovetic probably all departing, and James Milner and Frank Lampard’s wages removed, it is very doable. The other, cheaper alternative would be Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne. However, the former would certainly be a statement of intent from the club, something they have not done since acquiring Sergio Agüero in 2011.
But the statement has to be the right one, and not the sort of “look at me!” as they throw big piles of cash at potential like Eliaquim Mangala or a total waste as with Jo, Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robinho and the like. The vast majority of their signings since Agüero have been insipid, uninspiring, and on occasion very expensive for reasons few can fathom.
Contrary to popular belief, Manchester City have always spent big, it’s just that usually it hasn’t worked. Billy Sprurdle was signed in 1949 for a staggering £12,000 but couldn’t stop the club from being relegated. Weeks before WW1 broke and the total collapse of the Football League, City paid a whopping £4,280 for Tommy Browell and Horace Barnes. Steve Daley smashed the British transfer record in 1979, and Trevor Francis wasn’t too far behind two years later; neither of them were worth even half their fees and contributed to the demise of the club in the 1980s.
Of course these days, City can afford to financially absorb mistakes, but with other clubs strengthening, league positionally wise, City cannot afford it, and it is here where many find themselves knocking on the door of the Barca Boys, wondering if they will ever open it.
These two are supposedly in charge of transfers. I say ‘supposedly’ because they are in charge, and they’ve not been very good at it of late, and with potentially so many key figures leaving, it is imperative that they not only find the right targets early but also get them in swiftly. A quality full-back is needed, as Bacary Sagna is not getting any younger and Pablo Zabaleta, though still effective, isn’t either, and should Stefan Jovetic, another attacking player, such as a Raheem Sterling, is badly needed.
City are at a crossroads and this summer window is probably the most important one they’ve had ever. They have gotten to grips with FFP, and the money pouring into the club should allow them to go all out and secure the services of those they are in desperate need of. Unquestionably, Manchester United will spend as much, if not more than they did last summer, Arsenal are likely to sign another £40m player and as for Chelsea, they themselves have massive resources and will spend a lot of it.
Thence comes the case of the Academy. It is said that it is currently working on a twelve year plan to have a first team made up of mostly home grown players, but there is some quality already. This talent is not yet of first-team standard, but players like Brandon Barker, Angus Gunn, Jose Angel Pozo, Jason Denayer and more should at the very least be seeing some domestic cup games next season, if they have not been loaned out elsewhere. Unless, for the time being, the Academy is nothing but a production line with the sole intent of rolling out good players that can be sold on for millions.
Manuel Pellegrini is likely to remain as Coach, and this is his final year with his current contract, but it does remain to be seen as to whom he will have at his disposal to make a better challenge on all fronts, particularly in the Premier and Champions League. Hopefully, Uncle Tommy will not let us down and will repeat his drunken shenanigans once more, but perhaps this time with a bit more dancing.
Mike Devlin is the author of Manchester City: The Secret History Of A Club That Has No History, which is available at most high street book stores and major online retailers.
