Just hours after agreeing a $26 million deal for Jesus Navas, Manchester City are close to securing another top talent.
Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho has been spotted in Manchester, walking out of the hospital City use to perform player medicals.
The 28-year-old deep-lying midfielder could move to the Etihad for a fee of $45 million, with his buy out clause of $67 million negotiated down by City after that was deemed too steep.
But the big question here is, who is buying all these players?
City have yet to officially appoint a successor to Roberto Mancini, but Manuel Pellegrini is expected any day now. However in his absence director of football, Txiki Begiristain, and chief executive Ferran Soriano have pulled off two huge signings to try and give Pellegrini a welcome present, if he is the chosen one to take over at City.
(More: Jesus Navas to sign with Manchester City for $26 million)
Spending $70 million on two players isn’t a strange thing for City to do. But it does spark a trend in their transfer policy this summer. Last season Mancini was unable to bring several targets to the club, and he ultimately lost his job due to a lack of strengthening and losing out on big-name players to English and European rivals.
But City’s directors and owners are taking no chances in that happening again. The frugal model that existed after winning the EPL crown is out of the window. The City we know and love is back.
Just yesterday Sevilla’s president commented: “The price at which we have sold Jesus Navas is an amount much higher than we thought they [Manchester City] were going to offer, especially as there was only one bidder.”
Typical City. Money to burn and they don’t know what to do with it. Yes Navas and Fernandinho are quality players, but the huge sums they’re paying for them is raising eyebrows.
But with Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Málaga midfielder Isco reportedly on the way, it’s conceivable that City will spend way over $200 million on just four or five players this summer.
Hopefully Pellegrini turns up soon. Because if Begiristain and Soriano are left in charge of City’s transfer strategy for much longer... there might not be much money left.
Oh wait, I forgot, this is Manchester City. Carry on then, guys. Spend, spend, spend.