Campbell salutes Man City after journalist’s £40m reveal – ‘it’s a hell of a lot of money’
Kevin Campbell has heaped praise on Man City for investing “a hell of a lot of money” into their academy.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Arsenal and Everton striker said the Premier League champions’ development of young players is “starting to bear fruit.”
According to The Athletic‘s Sam Lee (19 July), the sales of academy players have netted City nearly £40million this summer already.
The likes of Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia and Darko Gyabi have all departed while a permanent move from Southampton for Liam Delap is said to have been rejected.
Five academy players have also left the club on loan this summer, with more expected to follow before the end of the window.
When asked by Football Insider for his assessment of the influx of cash from academy graduate exits, Campbell said: “Listen, they have invested a hell of a lot of money into their academy.
“They are starting to bear fruit from it.
“We have seen Chelsea and Liverpool do it over the years to great success.
“Manchester City are starting to make money from their academy players.
“All you can say it fair play to them. It is not easy to develop young players even when you make the investment.
“Their under-23 players are at a standard now where teams are happy to spend lots of money on them. They are elite players.”
In other news, a pundit has claimed Man City could accept a ‘big bid’ for Ilkay Gundogan after report from Italy.