Jay Rodriguez ready to up sticks and switch to Manchester City?
Published:
Manchester City, 5/2 to win the Premier League, have been linked with a myriad of fantastic forwards and are now reportedly ready to swoop for Southampton striker Jay Rodriguez.
With a mooted £28m move for Wilfried Bony expected to become official any day, Manuel Pellegrini still appears to be in the market for another prolific attacker.
This could be savvy foresight considering Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic are both tipped for exits, however other names in the hat such as Alexandre Lacazette will not be able to solve what has become a looming issue at the Etihad.
A lack of homegrown talent could see City fall foul of the FA, especially with James Milner, Micah Richards and Frank Lampard also set to depart in summer.
Enter Rodriguez. The fleet-footed forward was one of the Saints’ star players last season, before an ill-timed injury put an end to his hopes of inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s World Cup squad.
As a fully-fledged England international, Burnley-born Rodriguez would certainly for the bill for Sky Blues boss Pellegrini.
Would a switch to Manchester be the best thing for the talented wide forward, however?
Still only 25, able to operate on the left wing or as a central striker, Rodriguez should be aiming to be a star not a squad player.
Liverpool and Tottenham, two teams desperately in need of added quality up top, are also said to be interested in the speedy attacker and would be much better choices.
After spending months on the sidelines, and a suffering recent setback in his recovery, the former Clarets wingman needs game time rather than a fight for a starting spot.
A stay at Southampton, who have stuck by him during his injury issues, may be Rodriguez’s best bet of remaining in contention for a Three Lions call-up.
However, a rumoured £20m fee may be too much for the Saints to turn down, with no guarantee Rodriguez, who scored 15 Premier League goals last term, will return to such fine form.
Brendan Rodgers’ Reds and Spurs (5/1 for a top four finish) may not be able to outbid the Sky Blues, but Rodriguez should still plump for either side over a switch to City.
Such a move could prove crucial to his career path, and Rodriguez should look at Sky Blues outcast Scott Sinclair’s abrupt fall from stardom before opting for a move to the Etihad.
