Rating Manchester City’s summer transfer window business
By James Fudge
Manuel Akanji – Borussia Dortmund, £17million, Sergio Gomez – Anderlecht, £11million, Kalvin Phillips – Leeds United, £42million, Stefan Ortega Moreno – Arminia Bielefeld, free, Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund, £51.3million.
It was fair to say that the majority thought that a striker was the missing piece in City’s perfect puzzle. Whether you could say that piece was misshaped and roughly put into place or it was lost in its entirety, the puzzle is now complete with the perfect piece.
Erling Haaland was the headline signing this summer and was the first to be announced for his £51m release clause from Borussia Dortmund. Worth every penny already, with the Norwegian hitting the ground running in emphatic fashion.
The striker was also added with the January signing of Julian Alvarez from River Plate, who effectively came to the club in July, so we can say he is a summer signing. His versatility across the front three and endless running have been applauded by many, comparing him to the greats of Argentine and City striker folklore.
Those two players will certainly benefit City’s attacking philosophy with goals on the agenda.
Want your voice heard? Join the Man City Square team!
A hole was left by Fernandinho and that has been covered by Kalvin Phillips. The England international will provide cover for Rodri, but also can play in the more advanced central roles occupied by Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne.
Sergio Gomez was initially an odd signing, given his stature in the game, and coming from Anderlecht – effectively a weaker league. He is to provide back-up to Joao Cancelo’s left-back position, despite being originally a midfielder but converted by Vincent Kompany, and will take time to settle into the squad. Could yet be another Zinchenko-style player, we all love to have.
The fee and his qualities certainly favour the other option, Marc Cucurella. It seems we were driving up the price only for Chelsea to pay the demanded fee, a significantly inflated price for a player who has played one full season in the Premier League.
Manuel Akanji was the last man through the doors as he was announced on the last day of the transfer day. A rare occurrence to see Man City feature on the yellow ticker that is so often dramatized when the action fails to meet the reality.
A few other names were mentioned within the summer months but with UEFA’s FFP breathing down our necks, window shopping and driving up the auction for some players was just as fun. Even Neymar was mentioned.