News of what would be a record-breaking transfer deal is beginning to hit the tabloids, but could this really happen?
Manchester City are ready to break the bank and match David Villa’s £77.8million release clause at La Liga club Valencia.
City are ready to meet the 100million euro demand for the Spain striker and make the £34million the club splashed out for Brazilian Robinho on the final day of the summer transfer window look like small change.
The Middle Eastern owners are believed to have launched a bid for Villa that same day as well as unsuccessfully chasing Germany forward Mario Gomez and failing to hijack Dimitar Berbatov’s move to Manchester United.
Despite Villa, the top goalscorer at Euro 2008, signing a new deal at the Mestalla the Abu Dhabi consortium that have taken over at Eastlands are not to be deterred, according to reports in the Spanish press. (Daily Mail)
David Villa is a very talented footballer, but is he (or indeed any other footballer) worth such a transfer fee? Whilst it’s great to see the long-suffering loyal Manchester City fans getting some long overdue good news in the form of a seemingly limitless budget, this deal could well be one that may not make financial sense.
The Spanish international is a veritable goal machine, he has followed up a great Euro 2008 with an explosive start to the La Liga season (six goals in as many games) thus helping Valencia to the top of the table. I believe the Eastlands outfit should invest more sensibly in January, and that they should try to gradually grow the club so as to avoid any potential boom-and-bust scenario occurring at the club.
However if they could secure the 26-year-old striker for something nearer his true worth, lets say in the region of £30m, then I think it would be worth splashing the cash. Where do City fans see the club finishing this season? Would a top six finish be a good start to life under the new owners?