The summer transfer window already isn't going to go exactly how Manchester City planned but that doesn't mean they can't be stronger coming out of it.
Ilkay Gundogan's departure will come as a massive blow. Not only are City losing their captain for a fourth summer running but this time it's a player who is perhaps playing the best football of his career and remains an integral part of Pep Guardiola's team.
Gundogan scored twice in the FA Cup final and grabbed two more braces in crucial games to secure the Premier League title. He started every important match for City and is still at the peak of his powers, unlike Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho were prior to their exits.
Guardiola and everyone else at the club is desperate for him to stay but he is set to leave for Barcelona when his deal expires at the Etihad at the end of the month. He will take some replacing but City have already made a promising start.
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Mateo Kovacic underwent his medical on Friday as City close in on a deal to sign him from Chelsea. Though the 29-year-old isn't the signing to reduce the age of the Blues midfield, he certainly has a lot of the same qualities as the outgoing Gundogan.
Kovacic is a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder who enjoys sticking in a robust challenge and winning loose balls as much as he does sliding through slick passes. It remains to be seen if he can replace Gundogan's goal threat or if he's as capable of implementing what Guardiola asks of him, but he has the technical skills that should see him fit right in at City.
However, he isn't seen by the club as Gundogan's direct replacement and he isn't the only midfield target. City's lack of options in the middle were hidden somewhat by John Stones' remarkable transformation last season but they are quite light on numbers, even more so with Gundogan leaving.
Given the fact Kalvin Phillips doesn't look like he will ever be favoured by Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne could miss the start of the season with injury, further recruits are necessary. City missed out on Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid so have instead turned their interest to Declan Rice.
The West Ham talisman has continued to shine in one of the Premier League's lesser teams and guided the Hammers to European triumph this past season. Rice is leaving the London Stadium this summer and though he is Arsenal's top target, City are considering hijacking their move.
It remains to be seen if City will splash out the massive £100million West Ham want for their captain but if they did it would be an excellent signing. Rice might be a little rough around the edges at present but he has excellent drive, a keen eye for a pass and can be aggressive in the press. It's exciting to think how much better he could become under Guardiola.
Defence is the other key position City will need to strengthen. Joao Cancelo and Aymeric Laporte both look to be edging towards the exit door and Kyle Walker's future is also uncertain. If only one of the full-backs leaves, City may be able to get by without replacing him given they coped comfortably without Cancelo when he went on loan to Bayern Munich.
John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji can operate as full-backs for the season with Rico Lewis and Walker in reserve. If they both left, though, a replacement would have to be signed.
Until then, a new centre-back is the priority, especially if Laporte leaves. RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol is the top target and though he would also come at a steep price, he would provide steel, strength and a massive aerial threat to the side.
Bernardo Silva and Riyad Mahrez could also leave and if they do City will have to sign another forward, but ideally they would both stay so City have plenty of attacking options along with Phil Foden, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish and Julian Alvarez.
Possible City best XI next season: Ederson; Stones, Gvardiol, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Rice, De Bruyne; Foden, Haaland, Grealish.
