When Ilkay Gundogan added another two goals to his growing collection of big-game braces for Manchester City on Saturday, it was only natural that more questions would follow about his future.
Out of contract this summer, Gundogan is no closer to signing a new contract as he will leave the decision until after the Champions League final. Pep Guardiola has told City that he wants his captain to stay, and reiterated that stance after the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Gundogan - fairly - declined to answer questions on his future seven days before one of the biggest games of his career, although reports have since followed that the German is closer to agreeing a new contract after some movement in talks with City.
ALSO READ: City's five captains are all stepping up when it matters ahead of defining week
Quotes attributed to Gundogan's agent then claimed that no such agreement has been signed, putting everyone back where they were before the final. What is certain, though, is that losing Gundogan would leave a huge gap in City's midfield.
That gap would become even bigger if Bernardo Silva is to leave as well. Guardiola said he 'didn't know' if the FA Cup final would be Bernardo's last domestic game for City, and as the Portuguese limped out of Wembley (albeit reassuring reporters that he wasn't injured), he is another who could well leave the Etihad this summer.
Bernardo has wanted to leave City for some time. He loves playing for City, and will give his all while he remains a Blue, but would like to move closer to home and away from North West England. Fair enough.
After two summers of asking to leave, Bernardo may try for a third time lucky this year. If both he and Gundogan leave, they would be two huge characters to replace.
So it feels more than a coincidence that Phil Foden has been used more and more in midfield since the Premier League was won. He played centrally against Chelsea, and operated there for some periods during the games against Brighton and Brentford. When he came off the bench at Wembley, he was drifting around the centre, too.
Midfield has been Foden's long-term progression in the same way that David Silva moved inside, but Guardiola has resisted the positional switch to give Foden time to develop tactically, as well as utilising his directness on the wings.
Now given an extended audition in the middle, could Foden be a 'Plan B' for a City future without Gundogan and Bernardo? He would know the requirements more than any incoming signing, allow Riyad Mahrez more game time on the wing, and help transition City to a future without two of their most important midfielders.
Plan A would obviously be keeping both players, but Plan B doesn't sound too bad an alternative.
READ NEXT:
