Fabian Delph. The Decision.

So as many of you will know Fabian Delph was closely linked with a move to Manchester City. Reports suggested over the weekend that he was going to move for £8million however, right at the very last moment Delph came out and said he wasn't going anywhere. Here's what he would have to weigh up.

To start with lets looks at why he would go. Manchester City are one of the best clubs in England. He could gain Champions League football and trophies. He would also get paid a lot more money and play alongside some of the best players in the world. Sounds appealing at this point.

From a players point of view, while there is a long history of players making the jump to a bigger team and not making it into the first team, every player has to believe they have the ability to make that first 11, otherwise what is the point in playing at all. Also, a club like City usually has many players in each position but it is generally considered he is comparable to Fernando & Fernandinho and actually would be an upgrade for them.

However, here is why he shouldn't go. Manchester City are looking for English players to fill their FA regulated quota. This means his main appeal is his nationality and not his footballing ability. This translates to a lack of game time. Many players have moved to Man City for big money and spent their days wasting away on the bench. For some this may sound amazing but ultimately a professional footballer wants to play football and currently Delph is on £60000-a-week so he isn't exactly struggling.

In this instance there is another reason why Delph should make sure he plays regular football. He has just managed to cement himself into the England squad. He is captain of Aston Villa and has one season until Euro 2016. He needs to play at his very best in order to be a viable option for that tournament and it is a huge risk to go to a team like Manchester City and expect game time.

The reality is none of this should matter. If he believes he is good enough then he should spend the season proving it. He has one season with Aston Villa as captain. They finished dangerously close to relegation last season, so if he can inspire that team to a much higher table finish, he can get himself into the England squad and the offers will still be there this time next year. Only this time he will know he is more likely to play and he will be able to negotiate himself a better contract.

It remains to be seen as to whether he is up to this standard but the point remains. If he is good enough for City then he will still be good enough for them in one year. He is still relatively young and is only now really breaking into prominence and so there is no need for him to make the big move this early.

Fabian Delph I salute you for your decision to stay at Aston Villa. It is the right move and I hope this coming season takes you to brand new heights.

edit: I take all this back..