Manchester City Transfer News: Latest Fabian Delph, Enes Unal Rumours

Manchester City could sign Aston Villa midfield dynamo Fabian Delph for a meagre £8 million this summer because of a release clause in the player’s contract.

As noted by Laurie Whitwell of the MailOnline, the England international signed a new deal with Villa earlier in the year, with his previous contract due to expire this summer. While those of a claret-and-blue persuasion were delighted, this recently revealed clause was unknown to most.

Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe thinks that City would be getting value for money if they sort a deal for the 25-year-old:

While City supporters may not be sated by the modesty of a deal for Delph, he’d add many traits to their team that are in short supply. They’re simple things too, such as strong challenges, the ability to track runners and the balance he would provide as a left-footed player.

Here’s how Delph compared to City’s other orthodox central-midfield options in the Premier League last season:

	Delph	Toure	Fernandinho
Apps (Sub)	27 (1)	27 (2)	25 (8)
Goals	0	10	3
Assists	3	1	3
Passes per Game	59.8	83.1	52.5
Key Passes per Game	1.3	1.1	0.9
Tackles per Game	2.1	1	2.8
Interceptions per Game	1.4	0.5	1.8

As noted in the aforementioned piece, City are keen on adding an influx of homegrown talent to meet Premier League guidelines for next season. Therefore, while Delph would add plenty on the pitch, he’d also help solve a lingering problem off it for the Etihad Stadium club.

Martin Laurence of WhoScored.com touches upon the maturing the Villa man has done as of late:

Indeed, while he was once a capricious figure at the heart of the Villans midfield, Delph is now assured and composed in his play. But would this new-found maturity potentially prevent him from agreeing to move to Manchester City?

Richard Sellers/Getty Images

After all, he’d only have to have a discussion with Scott Sinclair, on loan at Villa last season, whose career stalled when he joined City. Young English players such as Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson suffered similar fates, sitting on the bench for the majority of their respective City careers.

It’s something the Heart of the Holte supporter account also picked up on:

But the very existence of this release clause suggests Delph is keen to move on to bigger and better things, and while he may look at those aforementioned examples, he comes across as a fiercely ambitious player.

As such, if the opportunity did arise, the midfielder would surely back himself to become a key fixture in Manuel Pellegrini’s plans regardless of the talent currently in situ at the Etihad Stadium.

Enes Unal Set to Sign

Claudio Villa/Getty Images

Manchester City are on the brink of completing the capture of 18-year-old Bursaspor sensation Enes Unal in a £2 million deal.

That’s according to the player’s agent, Batur Altiparmak, who told Danish publication PLBOLD (h/t Liam Twomey of Goal) that the transfer is likely to be finalised this week:

"

Bursaspor and Manchester City have agreed to make a deal in principle. The only thing that needs to be sorted out now is the agreement [between Unal and Man City] and medical. He's flying to Manchester in the coming week.

There has been interest from clubs in Europe for two years now, but I can't mention their names.

"

Twomey confirms that the fee for the Turkey international will be £2 million and that a 10 per cent sell-on clause will be inserted into the contract at Bursaspor’s request. It’s also noted that the youngster has not yet been granted a work permit, so he’d likely go out on loan next season if that remains the case.

Football agent Muzzi Ozcan thinks that City are getting a tremendous talent:

"

Enes Unal is officially Man City ! Signed one of the best youngsters in Europe ! Proud of Enes ! And delight to see a country man do well 

— Muzzi Ozcan (@Muzziozcan) June 25, 2015"

It’s a signing from left field but another indication of the Ethiad outfit’s worldwide scouting enterprise. In addition, with Altiparmak revealing a lot of clubs were interested in the teenage striker, the deal looks like a bit of a coup for City.

Bleacher Report’s Tighe took a look at some other less illustrious players who could help City next season:

Even if a work permit is granted, a loan away from Manchester seems the best course of action for Unal at this moment in time. Sergio Aguero aside, City have had problems with all of their striking options, but it’d be a major surprise to see Pellegrini opt for a teenager as one of his starters next season as the club go in search of another Premier League title.

Having already been capped by Turkey, it’s clear that Unal has talent and maturity that far surpass his relatively tender years. But he’s still raw and has plenty to learn. As such, it’s unlikely we’ll see him lining up in the City first team for a while yet.