UEFA earlier today confirmed that John Stones has joined Manchester City. No, really.
Stones is off to join Pep's tiki-taka cavalry for the still-hasn't-fully-hit-us fee of £47.5 million, and his leaving of Everton has triggered a series of transfer deals. First up, Everton finally pushed through the £12 million signing of Ashley Williams from Swansea.
But they haven't stopped there.
In the last few minutes, news has broken that they are about to wrap up a deal for Yannick Bolasie from Crystal Palace for the may-never-fully-hit-us fee of £30 million. Everton had lodged an entirely justified fee of £18 million for the winger, but Palace were determined to hold out for more, perhaps in the knowledge that City were going to fling too many of their petro-dollars in the direction of Stones.
BREAKING: Sky sources: Everton agree deal with Crystal Palace for Yannick Bolasie for fee that could rise to £30m. https://t.co/1rAf5rvUpF
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 9, 2016
Palace aren't going to hang on to this cash for very long, however. They have reopened talks with Liverpool with regard to the potential signing of Christian Benteke. Palace had a £25 million bid rejected in July, as Liverpool are holding out to recoup the bulk of the £32.5 million they splurged on Benteke a year ago.
With more cash flowing in now, however, and with Palace still determined to land the man who Alan Pardew felt so wronged by last season, it looks like the deal will go through by the end of the week.
So a considerable domino effect ahead of the new season, triggered by City's chase of Stones.
Of course, the money Liverpool used to buy Benteke in the first place came from City's purchasing of Raheem Sterling.
So while City have the money to make themselves better than the rest of the league, the trickle down effect can clearly strengthen their rivals.
