Kevin De Bruyne has given Pep Guardiola a dilemma ahead of Erling Haaland's Man City arrival

As Pep Guardiola admitted after Manchester City's 5-1 win at Wolves on Wednesday, Kevin De Bruyne is City's standout player.

"The way he's played the last few months, outstanding," Guardiola said. "He's been our key man in the last part of the season. It's not just what he creates, but the goals and everything. He is so generous and thinking what is best for the team."

Clearly, on Wednesday De Bruyne decided that what was best for City was for him to take matters into his own hands. The Belgian put in a stunning four-goal showing, performing at his creative best but showing a ruthless streak in finishing off four attacks himself.

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With 19 goals in all competitions this season, De Bruyne is enjoying his best season in front of goal in a City shirt. However, his 13 assists represent one of his lowest returns, but that arguably reflects the role he has played for Guardiola's side this season.

With Guardiola opting to play without a fixed striker for the majority of the campaign, De Bruyne has adapted his game. Since 2019-20 - the last season that City regularly played with an orthodox number nine - the number of crosses the Belgian has put into the penalty area has decreased, and he's instead looked to thread balls through the channels and out to the flanks, as well as getting himself into more goalscoring positions.

That shift has seen him assist fewer goals but score more himself. This season City's attack has been more free-flowing and positionally interchangeable than ever before, and De Bruyne has taken full advantage.

In the absence of a set reference point at the head of the attack, the 30-year-old has thrived on ghosting in