Finance guru: Man City stance has ‘changed dramatically’ amid Raheem Sterling latest
The willingness of Man City to let Raheem Sterling leave the club shows how “dramatically” their approach to transfer business has changed in recent times.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 27-year-old forward’s imminent move to Chelsea.
Sky Sports reported last Sunday (10 July) that the West Lonon club have agreed a £47.5million fee with City for Sterling.
An anonymous agent told The i last Saturday (9 July) that the transfer of key players between big teams before they enter the final years of their contracts is considered the “new normal” in the industry.
Sterling is now in the last year of his City deal, whem most players’ market values begin to plunge.
Plumley explained why City have put business before sentiment when it comes to the likes of Sterling.
“When you get into the final years of a contract, clubs now know that, if you are going to cash in, then is the time to do it,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“No club nowadays wants a player to leave on a free transfer where they can avoid it. Things have changed quite dramatically in that regard.
“It’s interesting here because it’s rival to rival. Those transfers don’t happen as much.
“But City are clinical in the transfer market. Haaland is a massive signing and they have the young Argentinian, Alvarez, coming through. They are making long-term decisions.
“It’s a question of then asking what you can offset that against that is going to make them some money. Sterling has served them very well. They bought him for about £45m and they are going to sell him for around £49m.
“It’s not quite as straightforward as that in the accounts as there are different ways of measuring the profit. But either way, City will see this as good business.
“You can see this with Gabriel Jesus as well. City are maybe better than most at letting players go.”
In other news, pundit predicts Nathan Ake may now force through Man City exit amid “surprise” £45m update,