After a quiet start in the transfer window, Manuel Pellegrini has managed to pull off some noteworthy signings in the past few weeks and it comes as no surprise that Manchester City have mainly targeted English talent.
City have managed to complete the signings of Raheem Sterling and Fabian Delph, two immensely talented footballers who go to great lengths in addressing City’s perceived lack of English talent. The Citizens have also signed 18-year-old Patrick Roberts from Fulham for a reported fee of £8 million in the past week.
The signing of Delph came as something of a shock after the England international pledged his loyalty to Aston Villa while also accepting the captaincy for the upcoming campaign, only to change his mind a few days later and sign for the Citizens.
Delph, who was called up to the England side at the start of last season, has since made eight appearances for the Three Lions and already seems to have cemented his place in the centre of midfield in Roy Hodgson’s team. He also made well over a 100 appearances for Villa since he signed for them in 2009 and was vital in helping Tim Sherwood’s side avoid relegation in the recently concluded season.
Prior to joining the Villains, Delph made his name at Leeds United where he spent over eight years. City, along with a number of Premier League clubs, were interested in signing the youngster during his time at Leeds but it was Villa who snared the then-19-year-old.
While loyalty, it now seems, may not be one his strongest traits, Delph does possess a range of skills that can benefit any top team. He always seems to be in control on the ball and boasts brilliant long and short range passing. Delph also enjoys running at defenders and has the ability to dribble past them, something not many central midfielders can do with ease. He also has a sharp eye for goal and often tends to test opposition keepers with his long-range efforts.
The fee of £8 million might not seem like a lot of money, especially for City, but Pellegrini will consider this a steal for such a highly rated midfielder. The Sky Blues have had to fill a gap in the centre of midfield alongside Yaya Toure after the departure of Frank Lampard and Delph is a perfect fit, though Brazilian duo Fernando and Fernandinho will have something to say about this. Both Brazilians played a decent amount of games for City last season and will be keen to continue that next season. Fernandinho in particular will be eager to fight for a place in the starting XI after he was one of the few stars in Brazil’s 2015 Copa America campaign.
While Delph is good going forward, he is also a very capable defensive midfielder. The 25-year-old is able to break up play and also start an attack within a blink of an eye.
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Delph does have one very evident flaw, however; he is prone to injuries. In his relatively young career, he has struggled to cope with recurring knee and ankle problems and also missed nearly two whole months of last season with a dislocated shoulder. It will be a serious challenge for both the player as well as club to keep him fit throughout the season, which could prove a difficult task given he will be playing Champions League football for the first time in his career. Pellegrini will need to use him wisely if he is to avoid injuries in the coming season.
Joe Hart recently claimed that the signings of Sterling and Delph are not just because they are English and are required only to fill the home-grown quota, but they are indeed extremely talented individuals – he is spot on. Both Delph and Sterling can add a new dimension to City’s squad and will play vital roles for City in the upcoming campaign.
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