Man City can rip away iconic shirt number from forgotten man for next signing

Manchester City have money to play with to hold back Premier League rivals with new signings.

Things have been relatively quiet for City in the transfer market so far this summer. Brazilian starlet Savinho is the only permanent arrival at £21million and that swoop did not exactly break the bank.

Julian Alvarez provided Txiki Begiristain with an unexpected, yet welcome, £82million windfall when he pursued a move to Atletico Madrid and City are looking for a suitable replacement for the now departing Argentina forward. Pep Guardiola does have in-house solutions, though, and another attack-minded addition is by no means essential.

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The Manchester Evening News understands cover for talisman Rodri is also being debated internally.

In the meantime, three players - namely Issa Kabore, Joao Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips - could depart the club and a permanent exit(s) would add a few more million to that City war chest. The proposed exit of Cancelo is particularly intriguing because of the shirt number he holds at the Etihad Stadium.

Cancelo, something of a forgotten man, spent last season on loan at Barcelona and his days as a City player seem to be numbered. Barring an unthinkable transfer U-turn, the Portugal defender will leave for pastures new, on loan or by putting an end to his five-year association with the Premier League champions.

As and when he does, the 30-year-old will leave the iconic No.7 shirt behind. Playing for City alone will be quite a pull for anyone pinpointed to replace Alvarez this summer, but wearing such a desirable squad number might just be the golden ticket to make it clear