Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini won't overpay for English players
Manuel Pellegrini would like more English players in his Manchester City squad but insists they are over-priced in comparison to foreign imports.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart is the only Englishman who can be regarded as a regular starter for City having racked up 27 starts under Pellegrini this season.
And the City boss believes more is made of the lack of English talent in City's side compared to other teams in the Premier League.
"It's important to have English players," Pellegrini told The Guardian.
"Can you sign them? To improve this squad, you're talking players you can't get. Let's say (Luke) Shaw. £35m on a left‑back because he's English? Can you get (Raheem) Sterling from Liverpool? Maybe if you go with £100m. (Gary) Cahill? Or (Frank) Lampard a few years ago?
"And if I want an Englishman in (David) Silva's, position, who is there? (Wayne) Rooney? Either they don't exist or clubs won't sell.
“When we won the Capital One Cup with no English players, it was everywhere. Arsenal won the FA Cup (with only Kieran Gibbs in the starting XI) and no one said anything. Chelsea have two English regulars: (John) Terry and Cahill. United have more but only Rooney’s a starter. Liverpool do, yes, which is why people wanted them to win the league.”
The future of James Milner remains a talking point in Manchester with the England international now into the last three months of his contract and no immediate renewal in sight.
'Complete' player
The former Newcastle midfielder has started just 13 league games this season, but Pellegrini hailed Milner as a "complete" player, insisting he is desperate for the 29-year-old to remain at the Etihad.
"The club wants Milner to continue and he wants to stay but maybe he wants more games," the Chilean said.
"I understand. I'm Milner's No 1 fan. Find me a more complete English player. There are players who’re better technically, yes. Quicker players, yes. Players who head better, yes. But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn’t one.
"It's hard to leave him out. Respect, commitment and performance level: 10/10, fantastic. He’s polyfunctional: full-back - the only position he doesn't like - attacking midfield, wide. I played him as a forward and the team averaged three goals a game.
"He gives everything. You leave him on the bench and he’s absolutely furious but watch him during the game: encouraging, shouting, supporting. And in the next training session he kills himself.
"Milner’s a phenomenon, a guy with big b***s and a big heart. Intelligent, great mentality, one of those players that when you leave him out you’re left with this feeling of injustice. It hurts because he should always play but sometimes you need a technical player with other characteristics.
"I hope he stays. If he doesn’t it will be because there’s an important offer."