I can solve Man City's pressing transfer concern - but I need help

As the campaign for Rodri to win a Ballon d'Or heats up in the media, there is a search for his replacement going on behind the scenes at Manchester City.

Not in terms of a new signing however, as Pep Guardiola has made clear any major new additions are unlikely. That means finding a system among his existing players that can cope in Rodri's absence. The pre-season tour has eliminated one option, found unlikely cover from the youth team, and reminded Guardiola of one player to build his 'Plan B' around.

Last year, when Rodri was suspended for three games, City lost all three with different defensive midfield systems in all three. Rodri had begged for more rest at the start of the campaign, but was then needed again to play the majority of games in another long campaign.

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City can't afford to do that again as they approach a longer season than ever before. Rodri is too important to risk burnout, or worse, injury. So who can replace him?

Last season it was a range of players. Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Manu Akanji, John Stones. This season the same names will be used, most likely in pairs or with full-backs inverting inside. Bernardo Silva has impressed playing deeper, too.

Josko Gvardiol says his next step is to invert, while Lewis wants to be more involved in midfield. Guardiola has now named Nico O'Reilly as another option in a double pivot and the teenager will be a first team option going forward Kovacic, too, prefers number six. But not on his own.

"I like always to play deeper," he told the MEN and other outlets in Orlando during