Pep Guardiola's strongest starting XI after ideal Man City transfer window

The summer transfer window already isn't going to go exactly how Manchester City planned but that doesn't mean they can't be stronger coming out of it.

Ilkay Gundogan's departure will come as a massive blow. Not only are City losing their captain for a fourth summer running but this time it's a player who is perhaps playing the best football of his career and remains an integral part of Pep Guardiola's team.

Gundogan scored twice in the FA Cup final and grabbed two more braces in crucial games to secure the Premier League title. He started every important match for City and is still at the peak of his powers, unlike Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Fernandinho were prior to their exits.

Guardiola and everyone else at the club is desperate for him to stay but he is set to leave for Barcelona when his deal expires at the Etihad at the end of the month. He will take some replacing but City have already made a promising start.

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Mateo Kovacic underwent his medical on Friday as City close in on a deal to sign him from Chelsea. Though the 29-year-old isn't the signing to reduce the age of the Blues midfield, he certainly has a lot of the same qualities as the outgoing Gundogan.

Kovacic is a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder who enjoys sticking in a robust challenge and winning loose balls as much as he does sliding through slick passes. It remains to be seen if he can replace Gundogan's goal threat or if he's as capable of implementing what Guardiola asks of him, but he has the technical skills that should see him fit right in at City.

However, he isn't seen by the club as Gundogan's direct replacement and he isn't the only midfield