10 Things We Learned from Manchester City's 2014 Summer Transfer Window
After last season's Premier League and League Cup triumphs, Manuel Pellegrini has a tough task improving Manchester City's performance in 2014/15.
There was some wonderful football played en route to winning two trophies, but City now want further progress in the Champions League.
Their summer transfer window was another well-executed one which has bolstered their options. Whether they have enough to juggle involvement in four competitions remains to be seen, but they look stronger than ever before.
Here, we look back at their summer deals in detail and find out what they tell us about the club.
1. A Long-Term Partner for Vincent Kompany Was a Huge Priority
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City's most expensive acquisition this summer was centre-back Eliaquim Mangala, who arrived from Porto for £32 million.
The club will be hoping he will become a settled, long-term partner for Vincent Kompany, a player who has had a number of different partners since he established himself as the club's No. 1 central defender.
Joleon Lescott, Matija Nastasic and Martin Demichelis have all played alongside Kompany over the last three seasons, but with Lescott now at West Brom, Nastasic out of favour and Demichelis coming to the end of his career, Mangala is viewed as a permanent answer to the problem.
A steady centre-back pairing is vital for City as they look to continue their domestic dominance whilst at the same time progressing in Europe. How quickly Mangala can adapt to English football may well be crucial in determining City's title chances this season.
2. City's Squad Was in Need of Some Extra Quality
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The core of world-class players running through City's starting XI is quite rightly revered, yet last season, despite the club's success, it became clearer as the season progressed that their squad lacked quality in certain areas.
This summer's transfer window was all about addressing that.
In came Bacary Sagna to give Pablo Zabaleta some support after two seasons of over-reliance on him; Willy Caballero will fight Joe Hart for a place in the side; Fernando adds options to midfield; and Mangala adds some much-needed quality to the heart of the defence.
It's a stronger, deeper squad than last season, which is exactly what City needed.
3. City No Longer Get Ripped off When Selling a Player
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For too long, City have been a soft touch in the transfer market. Other clubs know they're cash rich and therefore sell players to the Blues at a premium or buy from them for below market value.
This summer has seen that change.
Javi Garcia left for Zenit for £12 million—the same amount City paid Porto for Fernando, who looks a far more accomplished player. Jack Rodwell fetched £10 million when he signed for Sunderland, and Alvaro Negredo's season-long loan move to Valencia will be followed by a £23 million permanent switch in the summer.
4. Joe Hart Finally Has Serious Competition
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Hart has, for too long, drifted unchallenged as City's No. 1, and his form has sometimes suggested it hasn't been the best thing for him.
All that has changed with the arrival of Willy Caballero from Malaga. A Pellegrini favourite, he isn't here to sit on the bench. Any clangers like the one Hart managed against Stoke lest weekend will be punished more harshly than ever before now Pellegrini has a 'keeper he trusts in reserve.
5. City Have Midfield Options
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The arrival of Fernando gives City options in midfield the like of which they simply didn't have during the previous campaign.
He's an out-and-out defensive midfielder, meaning City can now go with a three-man midfield of Fernando-Fernandinho-Toure when necessary, whether that be in tough Champions League matches or late on in games they are leading.
It also allow Toure to play higher up the field, if necessary, and gives Pellegrini room to rotate the Ivorian more than he could during the last campaign.
6. Txiki Begiristain Continues to Impress
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City's director of football, despite his purposefully low profile in the British media, is making a real name for himself. He has been City's most important person during this window.
He identifies targets early, meaning City can quickly and efficiently secure their targets, leaving their rivals floundering. According to The Guardian's Daniel Taylor, who spoke to me during an interview for the Blue Moon Podcast recently, three of the club's main targets were identified back in October.
He's also sold well this summer, meaning City have easily fallen in line with the £49 million net spend restriction placed on them by UEFA for failing to meet Financial Fair Play rules.
He's also renegotiated the contracts of David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Aleksandar Kolarov, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko—some of the club's most important players.
Begiristain is vital to the club.
7. City Have Lost 20 Goals
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Deadline day threw up one disappointment for many of the City fans: the sale of Alvaro Negredo.
He scored 23 goals last season, despite a 16-game goal drought at the end of the campaign, and leaves for Valencia on loan for a season before completing a permanent move next summer.
Pellegrini will be confident of getting by without him given the flexibility of his forward players, particularly Silva and Toure who can play in a withdrawn striker role.
However, some see a goalscorer removed from the squad without a replacement. Only time will tell whether it was a good move for City.
8. FFP Is Biting
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Whether or not FFP is fair or ethical is the subject of much debate. Whether it's right or wrong, what's clear is it's affecting City.
A deadline-day deal for Radamel Falcao was possible, with Ian Herbert, writing for Sporting Intelligence, saying Begiristain was definitely interested. However, his wages, which were in the region of £16 million per year, would have seen their chances of passing FFP tests this season jeopardised.
City's spending appears to have been curbed by UEFA's stringent spending rules.
9. City Are Looking to the Future
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The new Etihad Campus is close to completion—an 80-acre world-class youth development and first-team training complex that's set to be the envy of clubs across Europe.
It's all part of the club's drive towards self-sufficiency and desire to produce world-class players of their own. It will take a few years for them to really reap the rewards, but there's little doubt it will bear fruit in the future.
They have also continued their search for the world's finest young talent, with Bruno Zuculini, a 21-year-old Argentinian midfielder signed form Racing Club, arriving this summer for £1.5 million. He's set to have a big future.
He's since been loaned to Valencia to gain some European first-team experience, but his displays for City during their tour of the U.S. this summer suggest he will be back challenging for a starting place before too long.
City Have a Squad Which Can Challenge Once More
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Chelsea have had a wonderful transfer window and arguably start the season as favourites, but there's no doubt City will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
They have superb quality right throughout their side and now have a squad depth to manage their involvement in four competitions.
Overall, it's been another successful summer for the Blues.
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