How Manchester City’s potential £300m midfield compares to Arsenal’s

Arsenal face Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

And ahead of the curtain raiser at the Principality Stadium, it’s worth looking at how the midfields of England’s top two sides compare heading into the new season.

Of course, the Premier League champions have strengthened the engine room by bringing in Bruno Guimaraes for £75million.

Man City, meanwhile, under new manager Enzo Maresca, are keen to add Enzo Fernandez.

Chelsea had set a deadline of 5pm on Friday, 14 August for City or any other suitor to bid £120million for Fernandez. That, obviously, has now passed.

But if Rodri does get his move to Barcelona — the Catalan club have had a bid rejected — City may test Chelsea’s resolve again for Fernandez.

Hypothetically, let’s assume they do sign him. Add Ayyoub Bouaddi, expected to cost around £85million, to the £116million signing of Elliot Anderson, and City’s potential midfield three would cost over £320million.

Arsenal’s midfield three of Guimaraes, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard cost around £210million combined. And it is better.

Arsenal would still have a better midfield than Manchester City’s £300m trio

Elliot Anderson vs Declan Rice

Let’s start with the one we know for sure will be playing for City this season. Elliot Anderson.

He is a very talented player, no question, but, despite establishing himself on the international stage, he is yet to play in the Champions League.

There are echoes of Declan Rice in his move to City, but Rice was more established, for both club and country — even winning a European trophy — before he made the switch to the Emirates.

The two are of course very familiar with each other, being partners for England, but Rice is the proven article, and arguably the best midfielder in the Premier League.

Bruno Guimaraes vs Ayyoub Bouaddi

Someone who might argue that is Bruno Guimaraes. The Brazilian led all midfielders in the league in goals last season, covers more ground than almost anyone, and won more duels than any other player since arriving in England.

City are opting for a younger option in Ayyoub Bouaddi, who, as exciting a prospect he is, still looks raw, as we saw at the World Cup when he struggled against the very best opposition.

Guimaraes, on the other hand, is about as guaranteed a hit signing you could make. You know what you’re getting.

Martin Odegaard vs Enzo Fernandez

As for the more advanced players here, who comes out on top from Martin Odegaard and Enzo Fernandez. Well, that is entirely debatable.

I’m biased, obviously, but I’m not having a guy that comes with controversy and inconsistency, however great he is on his day, over the man who has just captained his team to a Premier League title.

Odegaard, the cheapest from all of these players (£30million), has strong underlying creativity numbers, despite his actual output declining in recent seasons.

If Arsenal can bring in an elite attacker, we should see those turn into goals and assists again.