Man City are acutely aware of their lack of youth, says Stuart Pearce

Stuart Pearce believes Manchester City are rapidly evolving and are conscious of the need to bring through academy talent, despite the £49m signing of Raheem Sterling from Liverpool.

Sterling became the most expensive English player of all time earlier this week after he swapped red for blue in the north-west, and while former City boss Pearce believes the fee was excessive, he says the club is evolving in a positive way.

The club opened a new £200m training complex aside the Etihad Stadium last December, in an attempt to correct the lack of talent being brought through the club in recent years.

Pearce told Sky Sports:  “It's a totally different football club now, a club that has invested £200m on a training complex, they are a worldwide brand now.

“They're a club that is evolving, and obviously they've got the financial clout to go and play £49m for a 20-year-old player.

“But developing youth will be one of the top things they're looking to do. Every football club, no matter how much money to spend in the transfer market, have eyes on the likes of Barcelona, who have brought so many players through the academy system.

“It saves you millions in the long run, and those players will have a big affinity to the football club.”

Since 2010, Micah Richards is the only City academy graduate to play over 10 Premier League games for the club, but with home-grown rules forcing the club’s hand in the transfer market, the starting XI in five years time may have a more nurtured look to it.

But Pearce, who managed City between 2005 and 2007, understands the difficulties managers face in bringing talent into important games at any stage in the season.

“The lack of youth coming through is the big thing that has changed over the years,” he said. “When I was playing at the back end of the season, if teams didn't have much to play for they were comfortably pushing two or three youngsters in, to see what they can do, and that gives them the opportunity to get grounded.

“And sometimes you are surprised by youngsters, you throw them onto the big stage and they thrive.

“In this day and age in the Premier League especially, they're fighting for every point and place, managers are under so much pressure to deliver that they're a touch weary about pushing youth through.

“You have to hold your hands up to the Roberto Martinez, who has given opportunities to the likes of Ross Barkley and John Stones at Everton.

“I don't think spending relentlessly is the answer at any football club. You've got to be wise and clever in the transfer market.

“Manchester City's next move is to bring the next Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard through, the cornerstones of a football club coming through youth.

“Who was the last player to come out of the City academy to have a real impact? They will be acutely aware of this.”