EPL Summer Transfers: Raheem Sterling to Manchester City; Liverpool Bids for Christian Benteke

Summer transfer season is well underway. Earlier this month we looked at some moves in the pipeline. Today let’s explore a couple siginificant moves that will alter the landscape of the 2015-16 EPL season when it kicks off next month.

Raheem Sterling (Liverpool to Manchester City) –– Two aspects of soccer that I don’t particularly care about: how much money Manchester City paid Liverpool for Sterling ($76 million) or how much City will pay the 20-year-old Sterling a week ($310,000). Hey, it’s not my money.

For me, the more interesting point (yes, even over the MONEY) in this move is where Sterling ends up playing for City — out wide or in some tandem with Sergio Agüero in front of goal.

In the 2013-14 season, when Sterling teamed with Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez he contributed 10 goals in 38 games across all competitions. Last season, with Suarez sold to Barcelona and Sturridge hampered with injuries, Sterling scored 11 times — but in 51 games. Sterling shown to be a player who is more effective when he’s not the No. 1 priority of the opponent on defense, so he could thrive at City.

Building the attack around Agüero, Sterling and David Silva looks good on paper, while phasing out Jesus Navas, Samir Nasri, Edin Dzeko, etc. City’s summer overhaul is still in its early stages and will probably test Juventus’ resolve on Paul Pogba right until the window closes in September.

Christian Benteke (Aston Villa to Liverpool) — The Reds have money to spend after selling Sterling and they’re going to use about $50 million to meet Benteke’s release clause from Aston Villa. Earlier this summer Liverpool spent around $60 million on Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne.

One thing to agree about on Benteke, he’s a proven goal-scorer in the Premier League.

Starting on March 3, with Villa squarely in the relegation battle, Benteke scored 11 times across 10 league games. Aston Villa might have survived the trapdoor into the Championship since QPR, Burnley and Hull City were really inept, but Benteke ensured Tim Sherwood’s team would spend 2015-16 in the top flight. Villa also made the FA Cup final.

Overall Benteke’s EPL scoring mark is 42 in 88 games — a respectable number. Bear in mind he tore his Achilles shortly before the 2014 World Cup, so it took him a while to work his way back into form during last season. Long story short, I like what Benteke brings to the field. At the barest minimum he’s a better, more-proven option than fellow newcomer Danny Ings and makes the Reds far less reliant on the health of Sturridge.

Does he fit the current Liverpool squad? That’s a harder question and it falls more to Brendan Rodgers who is about to start his fourth season at the club without winning anything, beyond finishing second during the 2013-14 season. Liverpool’s summer signings last year after selling Luis Suarez to Barcelona were at best questionable and at worst a near total disaster. Rodgers is squarely on the hotseat, so it doesn’t exactly bode well the LFC transfer committee is still allowing him to have input. If Rodgers is let go early into the season — a possibility — the new manager is burdened with two summers worth of transfers he might not necessarily prefer.

How Rodgers figures out a way to get the most out of Firmino, Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Jordon Ibe, Lazar Marković, Divock Origi, Sturridge, Benteke, Ings and Mario Balotelli is a question that cannot be answered on July 14. Fortunately Liverpool is in the Europa League, creating more opportunities for players to log minutes. Rodgers did find great success with Suarez, Sturridge and Sterling all operating together, so it’s possible he finds a winning combination among these players.

Liverpool still need to sort out its defense, or simply figure out a consistent back three or back four. Benteke improves Liverpool, but the other issues make it hard to see them cracking the Top Four.

Morgan Schneiderlin/Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United — Remember when Phil Jones was the future of the United midfield? Or when Anderson, Tom Cleverly, et al received serious run at Old Trafford? Two summers later, that’s ancient history after the Red Devils scooped up Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger for around $60 million combined.

Much of United’s transfer plan is still in flux — what happens with David De Gea? Will Angel Di Maria be sold? Which forward do they bring in to replace Robin van Persie? Those are serious questions, but when you can build around Schweinsteiger, Schneiderlin, Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Daley Blind in the midfield you’re off to a good start. Matteo Darmian provides a better option than Rafael at right back, while Memphis Depay’s game seemed tailor-made for the up-and-down Premier League.

United are already back in the Champions League, whether or not van Gaal can make a run at Chelsea or Arsenal atop the EPL might be tied to whether or not the Red Devils pry Edinson Cavani away from PSG or make a big bid for Harry Kane or another forward van Gaal likes. Otherwise United might end up too reliant on Wayne Rooney for goals. That’s not the worse possible situation. If Rooney is focused on playing in front of goal, rather than experimenting further down the field he certainly could return to his 20-goal per season form.

Around the EPL: Here are a couple other recent done deals that I liked … Toby Alderweireld (Atletico Madrid to Tottenham); Dimitri Payet (Marseille to West Ham); Etienne Capoue (Tottenham to Watford) …

[Photos via Getty]