How Pep Guardiola's starting XI could look after dream Man City summer transfer window

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