Manchester City's upcoming summer looked as though it would be a stress-free affair. Out of the seven summer transfer windows Pep Guardiola has overseen at City so far, only three have seen a big influx of players arrive.
His first as he looked to shape his new squad, his second when £130million was spent on full-backs alone after an underwhelming first campaign and last year.
Winds of change swept through the Etihad 12 months ago as out went four players who had played such an integral role in the club's recent success and in came Erling Haaland, who would herald a new style of play altogether.
It was a departure from how Guardiola, who prefers gradual tweaks rather than wholesale changes, usually does things. So this summer, fresh off a remarkable Treble triumph, looked likely to be a return to normalcy.