Jeremy Doku turns Man City's £158m transfer window into a success

The news of Kevin De Bruyne's long-term injury put everything into perspective last week.

Manchester City had lost captain Ilkay Gundogan and brought in Mateo Kovacic, while winger Riyad Mahrez had made an unplanned exit. Josko Gvardiol was the marquee signing of the summer, with his arrival prompting Aymeric Laporte to seek an exit that had been on the cards.

With De Bruyne's injury, though, City were a man short from their treble-winning campaign, and with significantly less experience. Cole Palmer's Super Cup showing was promising, but highlighted the lack of options on the right with Bernardo Silva out, too.

But City have acted to improve their squad in light of De Bruyne's absence until the new year. Lucas Paqueta was on, then off, but a fee has been agreed for winger Jeremy Doku to arrive for £55.5m. The attacking options suddenly look a lot more healthy now another Belgian has been signed.

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Guardiola spoke of 'big decisions' needing to be made after the extent of De Bruyne's layoff was made clear. He downplayed Phil Foden as a like-for-like De Bruyne replacement, and for all the hype around Foden's brilliant performance against Newcastle, it's worth remembering that Julian Alvarez was also there in a dual number-10 role that played to both of their strengths. Kyle Walker also played his part by covering the entire right flank.

And when Guardiola was asked about Foden's performance, he spoke of players having to be versatile on the right and through the middle in those attacking midfield positions, suggesting fluidity will be the way to cover De Bruyne's absence rather than one particular player.

If it wasn't to be Paqueta - Guardiola