In the previous winter, Manchester City deviated from their usual pattern in the January transfer window.
Historically, Pep Guardiola has strategically conducted his team’s transfer activities during the summer in order to adequately prepare for the entire upcoming season. Nevertheless, the Blues astounded numerous individuals by displaying significant activity on the final day of the deadline. Joao Cancelo’s insistence on leaving to find more playing time resulted in a hectic finale to the transfer window. This may have made Guardiola question why Cancelo didn’t express his concerns sooner.
This year, City had a similar challenge as they had to find a way for Kalvin Phillips to leave. The ex-Leeds United player was unable to secure a place in the starting lineup due to Rodri’s significant advantage over him. It seemed improbable that this situation would alter if he remained for the rest of the season. Guardiola’s apology to Phillips in December essentially determined the fate of the English national team player.
Phillips’ loan move to West Ham was a highly advantageous decision, particularly considering the 115 Premier League FFP charges looming over them. Similar to several teams in the Premier League, City had financial constraints that prevented them from making significant expenditures during the previous month. However, they were successful in making a valuable addition to their squad.
Acquiring Claudio Echeverri from River Plate may be a clever decision if he can match the performance level of Julian Alvarez. However, City supporters will have to be patient until the next year to witness his potential impact, despite the hype of him being labeled as ‘the next Lionel Messi’.
The Blues’ performance in January was ultimately characterized by the combined power and unity of the current team. The addition of Oscar Bobb, together with the recovery of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland, has bolstered City’s strength post-window closure compared to their previous state.
