Amidst constant murmurs of a move to Arsenal, Karim Benzema has been linked with a transfer to the Etihad in recent days after Italian journalist and infamous transfer window celebrity Tancredi Palmeri attested to knowledge of a €70 million (£49.6m) bid being lodged by City for the French striker.
Although the claim should be taken with a pinch of salt in light of Palmeri’s questionable reliability and Manuel Pellegrini recently saying that the club aren’t looking to sign another striker, the unpredictability of the transfer window makes a move for Benzema not as unrealistic as it seems.
If Palmeri is in fact correct and a deal fabricates, it would be uncalculated and rash. A deal for Benzema has all the blueprints of a Garry Cook coup. You can picture the images of the striker hanging a Real Madrid shirt from his balcony to the sounds of Jim White hyperventilating. Here are three reasons why City shouldn’t break the bank for Benzema.
Kelechi Iheanacho
After the departures of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic, 18-year-old Kelechi Iheanacho is currently City’s third choice striker – and that’s how it should stay.
The Nigerian lit up City’s pre-season, scoring two and setting up two in five games. From the deft chip to send Raheem Sterling free for his goal against Roma to an emphatic finish in the same game, the young striker seems totally unfazed by the prospect of playing at the highest level.
Aside from his pace and finishing abilities, Kelechi possesses the vision and ingenuity to significantly contribute to City’s fluid, attacking football alongside the likes of David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero.
The addition of Benzema would undoubtedly confine Kelechi to either a loan move or a permanent place on the bench. To stagnate the development of such an exciting prospect would counteract City’s ‘holistic’ vision of integrating academy players to the first team.
4-3-3
Manuel Pellegrini drew criticism last season from his stubbornness to stick to a 4-4-2 formation, even when it seemed everyone but the Chilean could tell a change in tactics was required.
The signing of Raheem Sterling has given City a new dimension, opening up the possibility to consistently deploy a 4-3-3 formation. Sterling and Silva flanking a lone striker in a fluid three-man attack is not only a formidable front line but it allows for solidarity in midfield.
It was evident, particularly in pivotal fixtures, that a two-man midfield is insufficient to contest with teams who saturate the midfield. Fernandinho and Yaya Toure were overran by Roma’s midfield trio in the Champions League group stage 1-1 draw at the Etihad. Likewise, the two were dominated by Mourinho’s midfield three of Cesc Fabregas, Nemanja Matic and Ramires in the 1-1 home draw against Chelsea last September
If £49 million is spent on a player of Benzema’s quality and reputation there would be pressure on Pellegrini to find a way to implement him into a system. Sergio Aguero is the main man for City and dropping him simply is not an option. The Chilean may feel inclined to revert back to a 4-4-2 with the burden of Benzema, something most City fans would agree as being detrimental to regaining the title and progressing in Europe.
Compromise other deals
As pointed out above, signing another striker is unecessary. Especially for £49.6 million. It is untenable to spend such a significant amount on Benzema when the money could go so much further to improving the squad if spent elsewhere.
City seem set to sign Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne from Wolfsburg for around a similar price as the Benzema offer. If the money was to be allocated on signing the Frenchman it would make a move for De Bruyne seem far less likely. If the highly unlikely occurs and both players are brought in, it only adds to the formation conundrum; play 4-3-3 with Benzema or play 4-4-2 without Sterling or De Bruyne.
Furthermore, improvements in the left-back and central-midfield positions should be prioritised over a striker with Gael Clichy’s and Aleksandar Kolarov’s inconsistencies and the lack of a third midfielder of Toure’s and Fernandinho’s class to play alongside the pair.
