Straight swap doesnt save them anything. No transfer fee incoming, De Jong is already on a higher wage. It might be better on paper, but its not a money saver by any stretch.How so? One of the few players in the world that improves our team.
Letting Raz run down his contract certainly doesn’t save us any money.
We have no obligation to appease our Academy players. The point of the Academy is NOT to feed the first team. Either they are the top talents or we sign the top talents in a position, if we want to be at the top. Taking gambles is for teams with lesser ambitions
Sterling reportedly wants KdB wages (higher than FdJ currently)Straight swap doesnt save them anything. No transfer fee incoming, De Jong is already on a higher wage. It might be better on paper, but its not a money saver by any stretch.
One of the points of the academy is to feed the first team, the other is to generate cash from improving young players to farm out.
Agreed. Frankie is in no way a saving over Raz in a straight swap as it stands or stood (Ive no idea if FDJ agreed a cut as part of the COVID budget slash at Barca, dont remember seeing his name) - His normal wage is about 350k usually so going from that.Sterling reportedly wants KdB wages (higher than FdJ currently)
The point of the Academy, from the CFG perspective, really is the cash. It helps so much with FFP. It’s been far more helpful to the other teams in the chain. Feeding the first team is a consequence for when the top of the top talents emerge, but anyone expecting the kids to be useful in the first team necessarily to be considered a success, will probably end up frustrated
I don’t want this to get misunderstood. When I implied “saving”, I was trying to say, probably there won’t be a better way to improve the team than a Sterling/FdJ swap that would be such a bargain. It’s so “too good to be true” that I doubt Barcelona would agree. Replacing Sterling’s current wages for FdJ, given performances, would also be respective to what they deliver.Agreed. Frankie is in no way a saving over Raz in a straight swap as it stands or stood (Ive no idea if FDJ agreed a cut as part of the COVID budget slash at Barca, dont remember seeing his name) - His normal wage is about 350k usually so going from that.
Because if Sterling doesn’t sign a contract we will sell him probably in the summer. So he has a value. We may well be using that value as a calculation for what we can spend on a new striker so swapping him for a player in a position we aren't desperate for wouldn’t be saving us a fortune it would be wasting an asset.How so? One of the few players in the world that improves our team.
Letting Raz run down his contract certainly doesn’t save us any money.
We have no obligation to appease our Academy players. The point of the Academy is NOT to feed the first team. Either they are the top talents or we sign the top talents in a position, if we want to be at the top. Taking gambles is for teams with lesser ambitions
How can you be so sure?! Who would be paying?Because if Sterling doesn’t sign a contract we will sell him probably in the summer.
I’m giving my best guess like everyone else. Seems unlikely we’ll keep him and let him go for nothing.How can you be so sure?!
We have let players run down their contracts before. The issue is, only Barcelona has leaked interest on Sterling (unless I missed something).I’m giving my best guess like everyone else. Seems unlikely we’ll keep him and let him go for nothing.
The only possible reason I see us trying to buy De Jong is if we are resigned to losing Bernardo. Otherwise it makes no sense to swap a wide forward for another midfielder.
Better selling Sterling and using the money for the players we want in positions we need them, that’s what I expect the club will do.
Gundogan is 31 and out of contract in just over 18 months, haven't heard of any rumours of a new contract as yet. So Bernardo is not the only possibility of someone needing replacing.I’m giving my best guess like everyone else. Seems unlikely we’ll keep him and let him go for nothing.
The only possible reason I see us trying to buy De Jong is if we are resigned to losing Bernardo. Otherwise it makes no sense to swap a wide forward for another midfielder.
Better selling Sterling and using the money for the players we want in positions we need them, that’s what I expect the club will do.
Tbf thats something we generally do very well as a club. Being ahead of the game, and being knee jerk, sums up the difference between City and the rags, and has done for a good few years.Look at 3-5 years where the squad wants to be as well as where it is right now. Always helps put a bit of perspective on what the needs are, pre-emptive not reactionary.
Because if Sterling doesn’t sign a contract we will sell him probably in the summer. So he has a value. We may well be using that value as a calculation for what we can spend on a new striker so swapping him for a player in a position we aren't desperate for wouldn’t be saving us a fortune it would be wasting an asset.
Nothing to do with whether academy players are or aren’t good enough.
there's no room for a 26 year old on €400k/week.
This is a brilliant postI think it seems very likely considering the situation:
1) Barca's forwards are young, injured or old. Aguero unfortunately for him, is not gonna have much of a career there due to his situation. Fati is amazing, but really young and seemingly injury prone. Dembele is crazy injury prone as well. Braithwaite is old. De Jong is old and was a panic loan. They got rid of Griezmann and Trincao.
Then they have Depay. That's it, I don't blame Koeman for Barca's woes this season. That attack is dead.
So Barca are really in desparate need of an experienced but not old, Galactico level signing who is not injury prone and scores goals.
2) But Money. How does Barca make such a signing? Well they have Frenkie de Jong, who while great is worth alot of money and has high wages. Lucky for Barca they happened to unravel 3 young midfield talents recently in Pedri, Gavi and Nico.
3) City aren't relying on Sterling and need a backup to Rodri and Gundogan for the future. Romeo Lavia is not ready. We did not get Kane so we can easily swap Sterling with Frenkie and send an extra 20m probably to make it go through no problem.
Considering these 3 things, I think this has atleast a 50% chance of happening.
Sterling reportedly wants KdB wages (higher than FdJ currently)
The point of the Academy, from the CFG perspective, really is the cash. It helps so much with FFP. It’s been far more helpful to the other teams in the chain. Feeding the first team is a consequence for when the top of the top talents emerge, but anyone expecting the kids to be useful in the first team necessarily to be considered a success, will probably end up frustrated
Yeah in just 2 season we haveTbf thats something we generally do very well as a club. Being ahead of the game, and being knee jerk, sums up the difference between City and the rags, and has done for a good few years.
If we didn't have either and were choosing one I'd agree with you. However we already have one who isn't going anywhere so it isn't a choice. My opinion is, if Bernardo stays I see our midfield 3 in 2 years coming from Rodri, Bernardo, Foden,Grealish, and an aging KDB, plus possibly Mcatee and Lavia. I only see us possibly spending on De Jong if Bernardo goes this summer, but hope he doesn't.This made me feel old. Thankfully, he's "only" 24.
Not a having a pop at Grealish by any means but if you were to ask me who I'd want to see alongside Phil in midfield within the next couple of years then de Jong wins and it's not even a contest. He's absolutely brilliant.