Manchester City are hoping to win a five Premier League title in six seasons and will do so with at least two fresh additions to their star-studded squad. Erling Haaland is already through the door and Kalvin Phillips looks set to join him in an agreed £45million switch from Leeds United.
After finishing top of the pile once again last term, City set their sights on a new left-back and central midfielder as well as finally signing a top-level replacement for Sergio Aguero, who left after 10 memorable years last summer. It's not even pre-season yet and Pep Guardiola has already seemingly lured in two of his top targets.
Second-guessing Guardiola's team selection is not easy at the best of times. However, those crunch decisions are set to become even more difficult as Phillips — subject to agreeing personal terms — and Haaland give him added food for thought from next season.
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Outgoings might yet be sanctioned and Arsenal remain confident they will sign Gabriel Jesus, while other names to have been linked with moves away include Ilkay Gundogan and England winger Raheem Sterling. When it comes to signing Phillips and Haaland, though, that offsets the departures of Fernandinho and Aguero.
Brighton defender Marc Cucurella has been heavily backed to become a third high-profile recruit. But, for now, City and Guardiola can be pleased with the business they have done so far; providing they get Phillips over the line after agreeing a fee which starts at £42million with £3million in add-ons.
With over a month to go until the season begins, further work could be done in the transfer market, but either way Guardiola will be blessed with countless high-quality options across the park. Ederson is number one and that is not up for debate, but some other areas require in-depth thinking when the action restarts.
Of course, there is scope to chop and change depending on the opponent, competition or state of play for injuries and suspensions, but Phillips arriving might have shifted the goalposts when it comes to Guardiola naming his ideal line-up. Spare a thought for John Stones, Rodri, Jack Grealish and others as MEN Sport take a look at one way City could go for the most important games next campaign.
Possible strongest City XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Phillips, Bernardo, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.
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