There is still a long way to go until Declan Rice becomes a Manchester City player, if he even does at all.
City have tabled an opening bid for the England midfielder, but West Ham have knocked it back as Arsenal also weigh up their options having bid twice. Rice's future is far from being decided, and just because City have made a move doesn't mean the player will join Mateo Kovacic as an incoming signing this summer.
If both were to join, though, it would radically transform a City midfield that is already in the middle of a fascinating transformation. Towards the end of the season, Pep Guardiola added John Stones and Phil Foden to his central options, making a more versatile central unit that allowed the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gundogan more freedom to attack.
Gundogan has now departed, which will prompt a review of roles in midfield anyway. Adding another specialist defensive midfielder in Rice would mean a number of players would have to alter their roles next season.
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Most obviously, Rodri would have a direct, quality rival for his holding role. Kalvin Phillips hasn't given Rodri the competition City will have hoped for, and he would have to up his game further to get games ahead of Rodri, Kovacic and potentially Phillips.
When Stones - or Rico Lewis or Manu Akanji - has pushed into midfield, Rodri's role has already morphed into a double pivot rather than a solo operator, as well as dropping back into defence. If Rodri and Rice (or Kovacic) were playing in a midfield together, it would be a more defined double pivot, giving Rodri a change in approach next season.
City ended the season with effectively a midfield four, made up of Rodri and Stones in the base of midfield, and then De Bruyne and Gundogan behind the front three. If Rice takes that defensive role, City would have to find a way to keep the evolution of Stones into an extra midfielder, as well as not overcrowding the central areas.
Rice has shown his ability to drive forward, opening up space for Stones to cover, although it would take time to fine-tune the right or wrong times to get Stones forward.
And with an extra man or two in defensive midfield, both De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva will get more attacking responsibilities. Both have had an eye on what is going on behind them, although that will be needed less. Plus, one more defensive player will increase the pressure on the attack-minded midfielders to be more clinical in attack.
De Bruyne would likely continue as the number ten or tip of a midfield unit, while Bernardo - should he stay - might be asked to continue his wide role rather than rotate between midfield and on the wing.
Guardiola has shown he can evolve City's tactics over and over, and he did it multiple times during last season alone. Adding one or two more defensive midfielders won't concern the manager, or his players. What is might do is test those players' abilities to play a different role than they did last season.
