Manchester City’s signing of Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling doesn’t leave them looking too practical.
There has been plenty of debate surrounding the news Manchester City have agreed a fee with Liverpool for Raheem Sterling.
And, however you feel about whether the 20-year-old will be a success at the Etihad Stadium, the undisputable fact is that Manchester United have so far got far better value for money than their cross-city rivals.
Sterling – £49m
Sterling has cost Manchester City £49 million (ESPN), meaning, for roughly the same value, Manchester United have already signed three players…
Schweinsteiger – £14.4m
Bastian Schweinsteiger will cost United £14.4m (Sky Sports) and offers experience and quality. Okay, the German may be a risk in terms of his age and recent injury record. But paying £49m for a 20-year-old is a risk, too, and Schweinsteiger would easily make it into Manchester City’s midfield, let alone United’s.
Depay – £25m
A key transfer, as Memphis Depay could offer a lot more than Sterling for a lot less money. The Dutchman cost £25m (Guardian), although the BBC claim he was signed for £31m. Either way, he is still far cheaper than Sterling having scored far more goals last term (fair enough, these were in the Eredivisie).
Darmian – £12.7m
Manchester United have also confirmed an agreement for right-back Matteo Darmian, who could cost £12.7m (Sky Sports), thereby addressing another key need within Louis van Gaal’s squad.
With the Guardian’s Depay valuation, then, United have signed three quality players for £52.1m, while the BBC’s valuation takes that to £58.1m. For only a little less, Manchester City have signed just one player: an inexperienced forward who didn’t reach double figures in terms of goals last term.
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