The summer transfer window might be less than a week old, but already it is clear that Manchester City's squad is going to look quite different come the start of the new season.
In recent years City fans have become accustomed to the Blues making one or two additions to Pep Guardiola's all-star squad, but this summer has seen a flurry of activity not seen since the summer of 2017. At the time of writing, four new players will be available to Guardiola by the time of the Community Shield clash with Liverpool on 31 July.
Julian Alvarez will soon join up with his new teammates after City agreed to sign him back in January, while summer signings Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips and Stefan Ortega Moreno will also bring a fresh look to the squad. The new recruits could well be joined by Marc Cucurella in the not too distant future, with the Spanish left-back expected to join from Brighton in the coming weeks.
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There have also been plenty of outgoings too, with the potential for more movement before the transfer window shuts on 1 September. Gabriel Jesus recently completed a £45m move to Arsenal, following his compatriot Fernandinho in leaving the Premier League champions.
First-team regulars Raheem Sterling and Nathan Ake are understood to be close to joining Chelsea in big-money moves, while a string of young talents including Romeo Lavia, CJ Egan-Riley and Gavin Bazunu have departed. Meanwhile, the likes of Bernardo Silva and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been linked with moves away from the club, although it seems likely that both will stay put.
As is usually the case, City's dealings have attracted criticism from pundits and rival fans alike, keen to get their excuses in early as to why other clubs will apparently not be able to compete with the Blues next term.
Many who are not au fait with the ins and outs of City assume that because so many elite talents ply their trade at the Etihad, City must have unlimited back-up options. The truth, though, is that while City have been quick out of the blocks to bring in new talent, Guardiola's squad might not actually increase in size this summer. In fact, it might even shrink.
Guardiola's preference for working with trimmed, stream-lined squads is well documented. Over his years in management the former Barcelona boss has come to realise that smaller rosters throw up fewer man management issues, with fewer players to hand minutes to and fewer egos to massage.
However, the other side of the coin is that when the fixtures pile up and wear and tear becomes an issue, the effects of and injury crisis can be more keenly felt.
That was the case during the final weeks of last season, a time when City were holding off Liverpool at the top of the table. At one point Ruben Dias, John Stones and Kyle Walker were all injured, meaning Nathan Ake and Aymeric Laporte had to play a number of games despite not being fully fit.
A 37-year-old Fernandinho even had to fill in at right-back in the Champions League semi-final first leg defeat of Real Madrid, with Joao Cancelo unavailable to deputise for Walker due to suspension. Should Sterling become the second winger to leave the club this summer and if Ake follows him, then City will be left without two reliable players who can play in multiple positions.
MEN Sport understands that City will not sell Ake unless they can find a suitable replacement and Chelsea offer at least £50m. But even so, a new recruit could take time to bed in.
City's squad is remarkably talented, but it is not all that deep. There is a significant element of risk in Guardiola's approach, but as the last four title wins have shown it is a strategy that works.
City will be favourites to win the Premier League this season, but there is a feeling that they will need some good injury luck and good fortune to do so.
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