For all the talk there has been of Manchester City's struggles this season and how Erling Haaland has actually made them worse, the Blues could still win a historic treble at the end of it.
It just goes to show how incredibly high the standards now are for City after so much dominance over the last five years that even a slight lull in a campaign disrupted by the World Cup is seen in some quarters as a big disaster. As well as December's tournament, it's often forgotten the vast changes Pep Guardiola made to his squad last summer.
Fernandinho, Raheem Sterling, Aleks Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus, four players who have played huge roles in the club's success, all departed as Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips and Manuel Akanji took their places. That's a lot of experience to lose and a lot of sweeping change in one window, especially as Haaland's arrival has fundamentally changed how City play.
Also read: Bernardo Silva has reminded Man City of top summer transfer priority
Thankfully, after such a big summer last year, 2023 will likely be a summer of gradual evolution rather than complete evolution. Which certainly bodes well for next season since they're doing so well despite the complications they've faced.
The one position that needs to be the biggest priority is midfield. Ilkay Gundogan is 32 and is yet to sign a new contract with his current deal expiring in the summer, Kevin De Bruyne will be 31 when the next season starts, Bernardo Silva has wanted to leave for mainland Europe for years and Phillips hasn't done much since his move.
While a dream transfer window would certainly see Gundogan and Bernardo remain, fresh blood is needed in the middle of the park regardless and there is no better option than Jude Bellingham. Just like the signing of Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, it's a deal that seems to make almost too much sense.
He is already one of the world's best midfielders while still just a teenager and would get even better under Guardiola's tutelage, he has all the qualities to dominate the Blues midfield for the next decade at least and one of his close friends from Dortmund is already at the club. He will cost a whole lot of money but he would be worth every penny.
With no more forwards needed, the only other area that will need attention in the summer is defence. Left-back remains a strange position at the club. Joao Cancelo appeared to finally be a solution for the role but he was jettisoned to Bayern Munich after becoming frustrated with his lack of playing time after being outshone by Nathan Ake.
Things haven't gone well too smoothly in Germany so he may well be back in the squad next season anyway but Guardiola may want to finally add a natural left-back to his ranks. Chelsea's Ben Chilwell has been linked and though it seems unlikely he's capable enough on the ball for the role.
A new centre-back may also be in order. Aymeric Laporte has found starts at a premium this year and there have been rumblings he could seek an exit, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain linked. If the Blues do lose a player who has been so important then they will have to look for a quality replacement and RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol could be the perfect signing.
RB Leipzig are bullish and reportedly won't let him go for less than £100million which may be enough to see City walk away but in a dream scenario he would complete a sensational window alongside Bellingham and Chilwell.
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