Exciting Man City transfer window is one step away from being even better

Not for the first time, Manchester City fans are fretting about a left-back.

It has been a problem position for Pep Guardiola since Benjamin Mendy suffered a serious injury two months into his time at the Etihad in 2017, and pretty much every window since supporters have hoped for a new recruit to add competition for the place. Some years the need has felt more pressing than most, and with Oleksandr Zinchenko's departure for Arsenal that urge has arguably never been greater.

City know they are short a left-back, and have lined up alternatives if they cannot convince Brighton to reach an agreement over Marc Cucurella. The club's unwillingness to pay what they perceive to be over the odds for targets though has worried some Blues that Joao Cancelo - himself not only not a left-back but also supposed to be strong (and the only) competition for Kyle Walker at right-back - will have too much burden placed upon his legs.

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That should not take away from what has been a hugely exciting and successful window for the club. Paying £51m for Erling Haaland, the boyhood Blue who has become one of the best strikers in the world and had his pick of teams to join, is sensational business.

Kalvin Phillips looks an excellent addition to the squad to cover for Fernandinho's departure, there is serious expectation from Argentina about their latest wonderkid Julian Alvarez while even free transfer Stefan Ortega offers fresh competition for Ederson in the goalkeeping department. To have done so much business so early has also helped Guardiola's preparations for the season as he has had more time to work with players.

The departure of Zinchenko, as well as