Imagine the scene - those in charge of player recruitment at Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea got together round a table last night for a game of cards. A spot of summer transfer window poker for those who have real aspirations of winning the Premier League title next season if you will.
Txiki Begiristain, the Man City representative, made the bold move and raised the stakes first - he's closing in on Jesus Navas from Sevilla, who revealed yesterday that they have accepted a bid believed to be in the region of £21m for their youth product.
It's a clear sign of intent from City after what was quite frankly a weak defence of the title, which ultimately cost Roberto Mancini his job. But what are the Citizens getting for their early outlay?
© PA Photos
Twelve months ago, City supporters were hardly salivating at their summer purchases. With the greatest of respect, Scott Sinclair hardly gets the pulses raising of a club that has ambitions of winning the Champions League.
Navas is different. He is a Spanish international, which considering the quality that is available to Vicente del Bosque is an achievement in itself. The two things currently absent from his trophy cabinet are a La Liga title and a Champions League medal, but that is more down to the fact that up until now he has been loyal to Los Rojiblancos.
The 27-year-old is an old-fashioned winger - one who more often than not comes off the pitch with chalk on his boots. It's actually been a little while since City regularly played with an out-and-out wide man - the last of which was probably Shaun Wright-Phillips.
He's not a midfielder who possesses a clinical eye for goal, though. Only once (in 2009-2010) has he scored 10 times, with every other campaign seeing him end in single figures. Last term, he found the net just once in all competitions.
© PA Photos
Assists are the name of the game where Navas is concerned. Since 2007, the ever-giving number seven has laid on 75 goals for his teammates.
So, with that in mind, does the impending arrival of Navas signal a change of style for the 2012 English champions under incoming boss Manuel Pellegrini? In recent seasons, particularly during the Mancini era, the Etihad Stadium faithful have watched their team play in a 4-5-1 formation, where the midfielders tend to tuck inside and rely on the full-backs to get forward. Even if two strikers were playing, one would often sit deep.
In his last job at Malaga, Pellegrini frequently sent his side out with two wingers - normally Joaquin and Eliseu when they were fit. The signing of Navas indicates that the Chilean has similar plans for the season ahead in England.
It could also mean that Pellegrini is hoping to bring a commanding centre-forward with him as well - someone who will benefit from Navas's crosses into the penalty area in the same way that Alvaro Negredo has done for a number of years. And why not Negredo? Sevilla are cash-strapped and cannot afford to turn down a reasonable offer for any of their squad. He could, of course, also just keep hold of Edin Dzeko, who is a similar centre-forward.
© PA Photos
All of which would cast doubt over the future of Carlos Tevez. Sergio Aguero has just signed a new contract, so he is going nowhere. It's not so clear-cut for his fellow Argentine Tevez, though, with just one year left to run on his contract. It may well be the right time for City to part with the fiery frontman. Oh, and Sinclair - you remember him, surely? He used to be a footballer once. Well, he will almost certainly be on the move as soon as Nevas puts pen to paper.
Whoever spearheads the City attack, behind them will potentially be Navas, Yaya Toure and David Silva, so the said striker would be like a young child in a sweet shop when it comes to being presented with goalscoring opportunities.
Providing that Navas can overcome reported problems with homesickness, he is, at least from his performances in Spain, a player who should succeed in England. City have shown their hand first - over to you Man United and Chelsea.
Liam Apicella
