Manchester City under Guardiola have spent 313 million this season
Since Spanish coach Pep Guardiola arrived at City in June 2016 they have invested 526 million euros on the playing squad, added to today with Aymeric Laporte.
Aymeric Laporte is the latest financial outlay for a player at Manchester City, and one that takes the total spending for the club this season to over 300 million euros.
Laporte sends City spending over 300 million
On Monday morning it was confirmed that City had paid the value of the Athletic Bilbao defender's release clause to LaLiga. The Frenchman leaves behind him 65 million euros (plus a one-million-euro solidarity payment) which brings Pep's total for just this season to 313 million. The Premier League runaway leaders are dominating this campaign domestically - still in with a chance to pick up both English cups - and are one of the favourites to lift the Champions League.
The spend last summer reached 247 million euros and was focused mainly on strengthening the defensive line. Mendy came in from Monaco in exchange for 57.5 million to boost the left-back position, although a knee ligament injury has kept him out since September. The 23-year-old has only been able to play five games for the English club. On the other side of the back line, there were two additions. City paid 51 million for Kyle Walker (Spurs) and 30 million for Danilo (Real Madrid). To this they spent a further 50 million for midfielder Bernardo Silva, 40 million for a goalkeeping upgrade in the shape of Ederson, 12 million for Douglas Luiz, 4 million for Kayode and 2.5 million for Ilic.
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Pep's reign tops half a billion
Few have been surprised with this show of financial muscle. Guardiola arrived in the summer of 2016 and the team has been transformed with 526 million euros invested. Laporte will expect to play as he arrives with the tag of City's most expensive signing while alongside him is likely to be John Stones who came in for the not insignificant 55.6 million. A defensive unit of Ederson, Walker, Stones, Laporte and Mendy would have a combined transfer value of 270.1 million euros. Guardiola will be hoping that an investment like that, along with his established and much admired attacking force, can deliver the club's first ever European Cup.
The rest of the signings in Pep's reign have been: Sané (50 million), Gabriel Jesús (32), Gündogan (27), Bravo (18), Nolito (18), Marlos Moreno (5,5) Rulli (4,7) and Zinchenko (2).
Rivals United bemoan City spending
Bringing in some revenue going in the opposite direction were Iheanacho (27.7), Enes Ünal (14), Jovetic (13.5), Bony (13) and Dzeko (11). A total of 129 million euros leaving a balance of 397 million. Despite being named as the richest club in world football recently, José Mourinho bemoaned the fact that his Manchester United could not compete in the transfer market with their city rivals. The figures would suggest that United are not too far behind in spending although on the pitch there is no contest.
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