Man City's transfer war chest: the fringe players that could provide Pep with another £80m to spend
Whether you think Manchester City's success is solely down to spending or not, there's no denying that the Premier League champions aren't afraid to take out the chequebook. The two biggest signings for the new season so far have seen City bring in striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for a bargain £51 million ($63m) and then agree to pay Leeds £42m ($52m) for England midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Much of the cost of those transfers will be covered by the high-profile exits of Gabriel Jesus, who has joined Arsenal for £45m ($55m), and Raheem Sterling – just snapped up by Chelsea for £47.5m ($57m).
However, with the transfer window shutting on September 1, there is the potential for more business to be done, with manager Pep Guardiola keen to bring in a new left-back and any deal could be funded by more outgoings.
Indeed, City have previously generated significant sums of money by selling academy graduates and loan stars.
And, as GOAL outlines below, some fringe players have already been sold to raise more money, and more are set to follow, meaning City could end up generating an additional £80m ($100m) before the summer is out.
Gavin Bazunu | Southampton | £12m The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper shot to fame when he saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in a World Cup qualifier against Portugal.
At club level, he made his debut for League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers as a 16-year-old and has more recently had season-long loans at Rochdale and Portsmouth.
Romeo Lavia | Southampton | £10.5m The highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder made just two appearances for the first team but Southampton have still paid a significant transfer fee.
It could rise to £14m if add-ons are met and City will also receive 20 per cent of any future transfers as well as an option to match any offers with the Belgian tipped for a big career.
Pedro Porro | Sporting CP | £7.2m The Spain international joined City in 2019 but never made a single appearance and joked that Guardiola did not even know he was at the club.
After two years on loan at Sporting CP, he joined them in a permanent deal this summer with City making a slight profit on the £5.5m they paid sister-club Girona for the right-back in 2019.
Darko Gyabi | Leeds | £5m When Phillips completed his switch from Leeds, 18-year-old midfielder Gyabi made the move in the opposite direction.
An England under-18 international, the Londoner broke into the club's under-23 side last season and was seen as a player with potential.
Ko Itakura | Borussia Monchengladbach | £4.2m Another player not to play for Guardiola's first team, the Japanese international joined Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-year deal.
The defender was signed from Kawasaki Frontale for around £1m and had loan spells with FC Groningen and Schalke in the German second division.
CJ Egan-Riley | Burnley | Undisclosed Technically, no fee applies to the 19-year-old's move to Burnley but because of his age, City could receive compensation.
The right-back spent 12 years rising through the Academy before making his Premier League debut last season.
Issa Kabore (potentially £15m) Following a successful loan spell with Troyes, a number of Premier League clubs have shown interest in the Burkina Faso defender.
Southampton and Nottingham Forest along with French club Nice have been linked with the full-back who joined the club in the summer of 2020.
Samuel Edozie (potentially £10m) The left winger could be the next youth player to try their luck in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen linked with a big money.
Edozie, 19, impressed in his only first-team appearance in the Community Shield but injury setbacks hit his opportunities last season.
Yangel Herrera (potentially £10m) Joining from sister club New York City FC in 2018, the Venezuelan midfielder has had successful loan spells at Huesca, Granada and Espanyol.
Rather than go out on loan, the 24-year-old could potentially move on a permanent deal after impressing in La Liga.
Arijanet Muric (potentially £5m) It’s more than three-and-a-half years since the goalkeeper’s last appearance for City and Burnley have been linked with a move for the Kosovo number one.
A strong season at Turkish club Adana Demispor has seen his value increase but opportunities at the Etihad remain unlikely.
Nahuel Bustos (potentially £5m) Signed for nearly £6m from Talleres in 2020, the Argentine striker has spent the last two seasons on loan at sister club Girona.
He helped them to promotion with 11 goals but is unlikely to have a future in Manchester following the arrivals of Haaland and compatriot Alvarez.
*GOAL
Whether you think Manchester City's success is solely down to spending or not, there's no denying that the Premier League champions aren't afraid to take out the chequebook. The two biggest signings for the new season so far have seen City bring in striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for a bargain £51 million ($63m) and then agree to pay Leeds £42m ($52m) for England midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Much of the cost of those transfers will be covered by the high-profile exits of Gabriel Jesus, who has joined Arsenal for £45m ($55m), and Raheem Sterling – just snapped up by Chelsea for £47.5m ($57m).
However, with the transfer window shutting on September 1, there is the potential for more business to be done, with manager Pep Guardiola keen to bring in a new left-back and any deal could be funded by more outgoings.
Indeed, City have previously generated significant sums of money by selling academy graduates and loan stars.
And, as GOAL outlines below, some fringe players have already been sold to raise more money, and more are set to follow, meaning City could end up generating an additional £80m ($100m) before the summer is out.
Gavin Bazunu | Southampton | £12m The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper shot to fame when he saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in a World Cup qualifier against Portugal.
At club level, he made his debut for League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers as a 16-year-old and has more recently had season-long loans at Rochdale and Portsmouth.
Romeo Lavia | Southampton | £10.5m The highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder made just two appearances for the first team but Southampton have still paid a significant transfer fee.
It could rise to £14m if add-ons are met and City will also receive 20 per cent of any future transfers as well as an option to match any offers with the Belgian tipped for a big career.
Pedro Porro | Sporting CP | £7.2m The Spain international joined City in 2019 but never made a single appearance and joked that Guardiola did not even know he was at the club.
After two years on loan at Sporting CP, he joined them in a permanent deal this summer with City making a slight profit on the £5.5m they paid sister-club Girona for the right-back in 2019.
Darko Gyabi | Leeds | £5m When Phillips completed his switch from Leeds, 18-year-old midfielder Gyabi made the move in the opposite direction.
An England under-18 international, the Londoner broke into the club's under-23 side last season and was seen as a player with potential.
Ko Itakura | Borussia Monchengladbach | £4.2m Another player not to play for Guardiola's first team, the Japanese international joined Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-year deal.
The defender was signed from Kawasaki Frontale for around £1m and had loan spells with FC Groningen and Schalke in the German second division.
CJ Egan-Riley | Burnley | Undisclosed Technically, no fee applies to the 19-year-old's move to Burnley but because of his age, City could receive compensation.
The right-back spent 12 years rising through the Academy before making his Premier League debut last season.
Issa Kabore (potentially £15m) Following a successful loan spell with Troyes, a number of Premier League clubs have shown interest in the Burkina Faso defender.
Southampton and Nottingham Forest along with French club Nice have been linked with the full-back who joined the club in the summer of 2020.
Samuel Edozie (potentially £10m) The left winger could be the next youth player to try their luck in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen linked with a big money.
Edozie, 19, impressed in his only first-team appearance in the Community Shield but injury setbacks hit his opportunities last season.
Yangel Herrera (potentially £10m) Joining from sister club New York City FC in 2018, the Venezuelan midfielder has had successful loan spells at Huesca, Granada and Espanyol.
Rather than go out on loan, the 24-year-old could potentially move on a permanent deal after impressing in La Liga.
Arijanet Muric (potentially £5m) It’s more than three-and-a-half years since the goalkeeper’s last appearance for City and Burnley have been linked with a move for the Kosovo number one.
A strong season at Turkish club Adana Demispor has seen his value increase but opportunities at the Etihad remain unlikely.
Nahuel Bustos (potentially £5m) Signed for nearly £6m from Talleres in 2020, the Argentine striker has spent the last two seasons on loan at sister club Girona.
He helped them to promotion with 11 goals but is unlikely to have a future in Manchester following the arrivals of Haaland and compatriot Alvarez.
*GOAL
Whether you think Manchester City's success is solely down to spending or not, there's no denying that the Premier League champions aren't afraid to take out the chequebook. The two biggest signings for the new season so far have seen City bring in striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund for a bargain £51 million ($63m) and then agree to pay Leeds £42m ($52m) for England midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Much of the cost of those transfers will be covered by the high-profile exits of Gabriel Jesus, who has joined Arsenal for £45m ($55m), and Raheem Sterling – just snapped up by Chelsea for £47.5m ($57m).
However, with the transfer window shutting on September 1, there is the potential for more business to be done, with manager Pep Guardiola keen to bring in a new left-back and any deal could be funded by more outgoings.
Indeed, City have previously generated significant sums of money by selling academy graduates and loan stars.
And, as GOAL outlines below, some fringe players have already been sold to raise more money, and more are set to follow, meaning City could end up generating an additional £80m ($100m) before the summer is out.
Gavin Bazunu | Southampton | £12m The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper shot to fame when he saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo in a World Cup qualifier against Portugal.
At club level, he made his debut for League of Ireland side Shamrock Rovers as a 16-year-old and has more recently had season-long loans at Rochdale and Portsmouth.
Romeo Lavia | Southampton | £10.5m The highly-rated 18-year-old midfielder made just two appearances for the first team but Southampton have still paid a significant transfer fee.
It could rise to £14m if add-ons are met and City will also receive 20 per cent of any future transfers as well as an option to match any offers with the Belgian tipped for a big career.
Pedro Porro | Sporting CP | £7.2m The Spain international joined City in 2019 but never made a single appearance and joked that Guardiola did not even know he was at the club.
After two years on loan at Sporting CP, he joined them in a permanent deal this summer with City making a slight profit on the £5.5m they paid sister-club Girona for the right-back in 2019.
Darko Gyabi | Leeds | £5m When Phillips completed his switch from Leeds, 18-year-old midfielder Gyabi made the move in the opposite direction.
An England under-18 international, the Londoner broke into the club's under-23 side last season and was seen as a player with potential.
Ko Itakura | Borussia Monchengladbach | £4.2m Another player not to play for Guardiola's first team, the Japanese international joined Borussia Monchengladbach on a four-year deal.
The defender was signed from Kawasaki Frontale for around £1m and had loan spells with FC Groningen and Schalke in the German second division.
CJ Egan-Riley | Burnley | Undisclosed Technically, no fee applies to the 19-year-old's move to Burnley but because of his age, City could receive compensation.
The right-back spent 12 years rising through the Academy before making his Premier League debut last season.
Issa Kabore (potentially £15m) Following a successful loan spell with Troyes, a number of Premier League clubs have shown interest in the Burkina Faso defender.
Southampton and Nottingham Forest along with French club Nice have been linked with the full-back who joined the club in the summer of 2020.
Samuel Edozie (potentially £10m) The left winger could be the next youth player to try their luck in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen linked with a big money.
Edozie, 19, impressed in his only first-team appearance in the Community Shield but injury setbacks hit his opportunities last season.
Yangel Herrera (potentially £10m) Joining from sister club New York City FC in 2018, the Venezuelan midfielder has had successful loan spells at Huesca, Granada and Espanyol.
Rather than go out on loan, the 24-year-old could potentially move on a permanent deal after impressing in La Liga.
Arijanet Muric (potentially £5m) It’s more than three-and-a-half years since the goalkeeper’s last appearance for City and Burnley have been linked with a move for the Kosovo number one.
A strong season at Turkish club Adana Demispor has seen his value increase but opportunities at the Etihad remain unlikely.
Nahuel Bustos (potentially £5m) Signed for nearly £6m from Talleres in 2020, the Argentine striker has spent the last two seasons on loan at sister club Girona.
He helped them to promotion with 11 goals but is unlikely to have a future in Manchester following the arrivals of Haaland and compatriot Alvarez.
*GOAL
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Man City's transfer war chest: the fringe players that could provide Pep with another £80m to spend
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