Moneybags City have raised the bar... and that spells trouble for the rest
I HAVE to confess, I couldn’t see any club being bold – or perhaps stupid – enough to spend £100million on a player this summer.
But, in doing just that, Manchester City have produced a wow moment that is ominous for the Premier League... and depressing for fans the world over.
City supporters will be triumphant, of course. And I don’t blame them. It seems certain they will get Harry Kane as well and to add two of the best players in the Premier League to an already seemingly invincible squad is frightening.
I knew they would sign someone. If you do not, then you are not just standing still these days, you are going backwards – because all your rivals will refresh. But £100m? As a starter for the main course of Kane? It’s mind-blowing.
And if they signed Lionel Messi, what’s that, a whole bloody banquet?! I know Pep Guardiola has said it is not in his thoughts, but everyone knows City are probably one of only two clubs in the world who can sign him.
So I would not rule it out. If they do, then God help everyone else. You always want to see the best players in the world coming to the Premier League. But only if they play for your club!
Everyone wants to see Messi play, it would be brilliant to have him in English football. But no one wants to see him destroying their team... and he has the talent to do that to anyone.
Even if City don’t get him, they will surely get Kane (right) – and that is ominous. Pep is being clever with signings – if you bring in players from the Premier League, there is far less chance they will fail.
They know the league, the pace of it and the intensity. So there are fewer risks in bringing the player in. Which is probably why City are paying so much for these players. That premium is your guarantee, though you can’t return them if they go wrong!
To me, with the financial hit taken by all clubs from the fallout of Covid, it is madness to gamble so much money. Yes, fans are back and that is brilliant. Yes, that helps with the finances.
But who knows if it will last? And that is the gamble. I honestly thought clubs would hold off on the huge spending for another year – and that would have been good for the competition.
Now the others are reeling. City are already the benchmark in English football – hell, in world football. Now they’ve raised the bar again, with Jack Grealish, and the other signings that will surely follow.
The only hope for the other sides is the players City bring in won’t gel, won’t fit into the team, but that is clutching at straws. They are too good not to fit in, and Grealish and Kane already know what’s required and have proved they have it. I was shaking my head when I heard Grealish’s price because readers of this column will know how much I’ve rated him over the past few years. He has that touch of class... and now he has a platform to go up several levels further.
Kane can provide something City are missing. If they have had a slight weakness over the past couple of years with Sergio Aguero being injured, it is scoring goals in the big moments.
With Kane, they will get those 1-0 wins that are so decisive. And that spells trouble for the rest. City are already the team to beat this season. Now they are the team heading off into the distance.
The others have to respond. I think Chelsea will sign Romelu Lukaku and United have already made a couple of very good additions. They were maybe two or three players away from challenging, but City’s business may push them that touch further away.
This next week or so is going to be massive for the Premier League.
There could be surprise big-money signings... and a huge season on the way.
If Pep signs Harry Kane, that really is ominous. With him, City will get those 1-0 wins that are so decisive