With the recent transfer of Kyle Walker, football clubs have been spending more money than ever–Which raises the question: Is it all worth it?
Manchester City continues its spending spree, signing defender Kyle Walker from Tottenham to a deal worth a staggering £50 million. The deal is expected to rise to £54 million, based on performance related raises. The deal breaks the world-record transfer fee for a full-back, which was previously held by John Stones, who went from Everton to Man City in 2016.
This fee has attracted a lot of criticism among football supporters all over the world. Among the critics is former England international, Gary Lineker. “Don’t get me wrong, I like Kyle Walker.” Lineker said. “He has many assets, and is a good addition for Man City. Not his fault of course, but £50m is mental.”
Courtesy daily express
Walker is, in the worlds eye, not one of the best full backs in the world. The 27-year-old has improved his game and has produced brilliant performances during his time at Spurs, but I’m not sure he has developed into a world-class defender worth that much money.
There is no doubt Walker will add width to Guardiola’s side with his dazzling pace on the flank–His ability to attack on the break will be a plus to the team. However, it remains to be seen how quickly he adapts to Guardiola’s philosophy. Having such a big price tag on his shoulders could prove too much for him to handle.
Walker has made his desire to take his game to the next level no secret, admitting that his move to Etihad would improve his chances of winning silverware. I think his move is a step in the right direction, but it’s obviously a big gamble from City’s point of view. Paying such an amount of money for a player that lost his starting spot during the second half of last season doesn’t sound like good business to me.
Big money that clubs make from TV deals is beginning to play a major part in determining the market value of players. Clubs demand inflated fees for players who are seeking for a move, making deals so difficult to complete. Players that move to other clubs for record-breaking fees always face intense pressure to prove their worth. These players usually find it difficult in their first season, while the season after proves to be the deciding factor. It is one thing to splash the money for a player, and it’s another thing to get value for your money.
Walker’s big-money move is no guarantee he will be a success at City. I think there is value in the market (especially for defenders) but clubs choose to pay over the odds for GOOD players that are not BIG players. It seems to me that club owners are beginning to throw money in order to answer the short term problem, rather than looking for a long term solution.
It shows how desperate big clubs are to just put more trophies in their cabinets.
Walker is expected to fill the void left after the departure of Zabaleta and Sagna. Last season, Guardiola expressed his frustration that his full-backs couldn’t cope with his high demands. Walker would certainly feel the pressure from his manager to deliver. “I am excited, a little bit nervous but it’s the next chapter in my career where I can go on and learn,” Walker said in a statement.
Although Walker would be under the spotlight to shine, I think he can deal with the pressure. Walker will be hoping to hit the ground running, but he faces huge pressure to make his mark.
