In the red corner, the most expensive teenager in footballing history. In the blue, the most expensive Englishman ever and the subject of the biggest transfer ever involving a German club. Welcome to Manchester, where two clubs speculate to accumulate, whether points or trophies.
The neighbours are English football's two biggest spenders. If add-ons are triggered, Manchester United's summer spending will come to £128 million (Dh719.8m), Manchester City's to £156m.
That would be the most an English club have ever spent in a transfer window. The current record holders? United, who paid £152m in 2014.
This year’s flagship acquisition was Anthony Martial whose initial fee of £36m was even branded “ridiculous” by his own manager, Louis van Gaal.
It could rise to £58.8m, which will make the 19-year-old Frenchman the sixth most expensive player ever.
READ MORE:
– Andy Mitten Consistent Chris Smalling enjoying his best season in Manchester United's central defence
As it is, City’s £54m midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who was bought from Wolfsburg, represents the summer’s most extravagant purchase.
That title briefly belonged to his teammate Raheem Sterling, whose price will rise to £49m. Each has been a costly catalyst this week, with Sterling scoring a maiden hat-trick, De Bruyne an Uefa Champions League winner against Sevilla and Martial a vital equaliser in Moscow.
Each should be a derby debutant on Sunday. City could field three, United perhaps four.
Van Gaal is likely to select Matteo Darmian at right-back and, despite difficult days at Southampton and Arsenal, the Italian should prove a bargain at a mere £12.7m.
The £25m winger Memphis Depay may be benched again after a slow start to Premier League life but the midfield could contain both Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger. By offering energy and experience respectively, they have given Van Gaal the options he cherishes.
But Martial was the most extraordinary signing, because of the fee, the way his arrival was a bolt from the blue and his superlative start.
He was named the Premier League’s player of the month for September, not least for marking his debut with a memorable solo goal against Liverpool.
Though he may start on the left on Sunday, as he did last week at Everton, he remedied United’s striker shortage.
In contrast, City seemed to be stockpiling attacking midfielders when they committed more than £100m to one department of the side, a decision that has made more sense as David Silva and Samir Nasri are sidelined.
Sterling, as manager Manuel Pellegrini readily concedes, represents a work in progress, a player that the Chilean says will improve from teaming up with City's proven class acts.
De Bruyne, 24, seems not merely the finished article, but the creative one. Like Martial, he has made an immediate impact. His five starts have yielded five goals and four assists. Like Martial, there are fewer mentions of his cost now. Perform and names are not always prefixed by a sizeable fee.
Sterling's withdrawal at half time in the 6-1 win over Newcastle United earlier this month, when Pellegrini bluntly admitted he had not played well, rendered him the £49m man.
His response was eloquent. He registered a first career hat-trick against Bournemouth last week.
He could have claimed that distinction in Liverpool’s colours at Old Trafford last season. Instead, courtesy of David de Gea’s brilliance, he did not find the net at all. He unpicked United as a high-speed No 10 on his March 2014 visit and reprised the role against Bournemouth, when De Bruyne was fielded on the left. Either could be a stand-in striker on Sunday. Either has the versatility to offer Pellegrini the luxury of choice.
Attacking additions have overshadowed their less progressive counterparts. The luckless Fabian Delph’s City career has only incorporated 16 minutes of first-team football, sandwiching two hamstring injuries. The £31.5m centre-back Nicolas Otamendi is a forceful character but City concede a goal every 53 minutes with him on the field and only one per 525 with captain Vincent Kompany.
The second most expensive defender in Premier League history should be bound for the bench on Sunday.
Others cost still more. They will command the attention as moneyed forces clash.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
