Manchester City’s signing of Xavier Parker from West Ham United‘s academy is yet another example of the club’s predatory tactics in the transfer market. The Premier League champions have a history of poaching young talent from other English clubs, undermining the development of local talent and creating an unfair playing field.
Manchester City’s financial resources allow them to outbid other clubs for young players. This creates an uneven playing field, as less wealthy clubs struggle to compete with the Premier League champions’ deep pockets.
It’s a strategy which may serve the club well should they succumb to the 115 charges for footballing regularities. Even if relegated to League One, City’s stockpiling of talent should enable them to bounce back to the Premier League even if they do have to sell their superstars.
City’s predatory tactics can be seen as a form of exploitation. The club’s ability to sign young talent from smaller clubs can weaken those clubs’ development pathways and limit their chances of producing top-level players.
Manchester City’s dominance in the transfer market poses a threat to the long-term health of English football. The club’s ability to attract the best young talent can create a concentration of talent at a few elite clubs, leading to a decline in competitiveness in the Premier League.
Blame the agents. They know if a kid is from the Man City academy it adds value to his price tag when city inevitably sell them on for a big profit.
Agents play a big part in this. They turn the heads of youngsters and their families with promises of fame and riches which often don’t materialise. These parasites need to be regulated far tighter than they are
They didn’t hold a gun to his head.
I’m sure we’ve done it to clubs smaller than us, and look how whu profited on Rice he was rejected by a ‘big club’.
That’s football and it’s up to clubs to run themselves properly and offer players a pathway.
Who in their right mind is going to turn a chance down to join city?
They are sent to a top private school for education, every need catered for, and get top coaching in surroundings that don’t include portacabins.
Let’s see how he get’s on as it hasn’t worked out well for the last lad who went there, he was released after just one season.
It has always happened, but I read that City sign these players to sell on at a later date for 100% profit as home grown players
contrary to critics of the academy on this site W.H. are obviously doing something worthwhile , developing highly talented young players. to be poached by M.C. that club are no fools!
perhaps we should be more understanding in future.
I take it this practice is not illegal and so I would ask, “Why does a youngster who has been with a club from primary school, is usually a devoted fan and has access to PL club resources, succumb to overtures from other clubs? Is it just money or is it more to do with feeling that their careers are on hold and they want to play. They don’t necessarily understand that game time will probably not change, but that is where those resources come in. Ambition will steer them to the top clubs, so we just need to become one of those.
I remember many years ago having similar comments made to me when we pinched Defoe off Charlton.
My mate was annoyed as a Charlton supporter.
It’s always happened….