Another young talent heads to Manchester
Manchester City have won the race for Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, beating Arsenal to the 16-year-old winger's signature. The deal, confirmed by David Ornstein, is set to cost an initial £10m, with potential add-ons taking it to £12.5m.
That fee has already raised a few eyebrows. Journalist Eduardo Hagn described it as an “insane price” for a player whose experience is almost entirely limited to Championship football. Time will tell whether Monga develops into a talent to rival the likes of Arsenal's Max Dowman or Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha, but he's already cost considerably more than those two combined.
Arsenal were firmly in the race for Monga this summer, but it's not hugely surprising that City proved more willing to meet Leicester's demands. One prominent Gunners source has been critical of how the club handled the situation, with suggestions the youngster was keen on a move to the Emirates.
Maybe Arsenal will look back and wish they'd paid up for an exceptional talent. Equally, there's a case for not taking that risk on a 16-year-old. Plenty of wonderkids have faded away over the years, and the Gunners may prefer to spend on players who can make an immediate impact.
City, meanwhile, will be pleased to have secured one of the country's most highly-rated young players. For a club of their resources, it's not a considerable outlay — and it could end up looking like a bargain.