Chasing Sterling costs more than money

26 June 2015 09:39

Liverpool and Manchester City have been engaged in a game of chicken for some time now and every outcome is possible other than one where no side comes out unscathed. I have not yet decided which party is more ridiculous. Is it Manchester City willing to pay nearly 50 million pounds for a player, Raheem Sterling, who is worth 20-25 and whose addition is not entirely necessary? Or is it Liverpool who turned down a 40 million pound offer for someone who will not be signing a new contract and will be dangerously close to leaving the Reds for free if City decide not to up their offer? As I said, most scenarios are possible. If Liverpool do sell Sterling for 50 million, having just signed Roberto Firmino for 29 million it would be a great piece of business, one not seen on Merseyside, at least the red half, for some time. If Manchester City get him for that price well then they have a talent, an English one, but they have massively overpaid to get it. But, if they want him they will get him. my only concern is that the chase for his signature could hamper them in the transfer market in terms of signing other players, in different positions, that they require more.

First of all, paying 50 million will encourage other sellers to boost their sale prices when City come calling. However, during their chase for Sterling City look to have missed out on Nathaniel Clyne, another Englishmen, who is set for none other than Liverpool. He would have been a great fit for City as Sagna is not quality cover for Zabaleta and they let Micah Richards go to Villa without as much as a bat of the eyelash. This in my mind was their biggest mistake thus far this summer. Richards, another Englishmen, is built like Adonis, which is a compliment to Adonis. He has pace, absolutely cannot get taken off the ball, gets forward and will be massively successful in Birmingham.

City have not been speaking with John Stones, who is also English, and the best young center half in the country, in my opinion. What do City need? They definitely need a quality center half and right back. But, toying with the possibility of bringing in another flash young outfielder could cost them getting position players that they actually require. If only Jack Wilshere were English and could play as a deep lying midfielder who can get forward. That’s right though he is. By the way, if you think I’m overkilling the English emphasis I am but only because it is the biggest reason people tell me that it’s worth paying the lot for Sterling. I think I just gave you several reasons why this is not so. Yes City need Englishmen but there are, or in Clyne’s case were, many more out there. Anyway, Wilshere would be a great buy for City but after his two cracking goals for England and a habit of selling their big players to City Arsenal would be a little crazy to even entertain the idea. However, this is a club that has a statue of Dennis Bergkamp outside of their stadium. How many statues are going to pop up outside the Emirates should they win the Champions League?

Source: DSG