Man City have a transfer problem - but their rivals have shown them how to solve it
Manchester City's midfield needs addressing. Bernardo Silva is 30, Kevin De Bruyne is 33 and Ilkay Gundogan is 34.
And the number of direct goal involvements from midfielders is declining. Silva has three goals and four assists in 30 appearances this term, De Bruyne has two and six in 22, and Gundogan has two and one in 30.
Liverpool's midfield was never renowned for its creativity and goals, with the responsibility often left to the front-three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, plus full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.
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But by the summer of 2023, James Milner and Jordan Henderson had reached 37 and 33 respectively and Fabinho had lost his form, as had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who were too injury-prone. All five were sold or released.
In the same summer, the Reds completed a midfield rebuild, signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig, Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich and Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart. Immediately they looked refreshed.
Mac Allister and Szoboszlai seamlessly slotted in, with Endo occupying the No.6 position before Gravenberch made it his own under the tutelage of Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
City re-signed Gundogan last summer from Barcelona. It was a backwards step, and they say never go back.
City have signed four defenders and an attacker during this transfer window, but they must address their midfield transfer problem.
Undoubtedly, Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is a massive miss, but it is in the other two advanced midfield positions where the problem lies.
Pep Guardiola does not trust Kalvin Phillips, hence his lack of game time and subsequent loans to West Ham United and Ipswich Town. Furthermore, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes are not at the same standard De Bruyne, Silva and Gundogan were in their prime.
City need to sign the next generation that have the potential to be world-class to continue to compete for Premier League titles and Champions League crowns.
De Bruyne could become club captain after the loan departure of Kyle Walker to AC Milan. Lifting the trophy in Munich might appeal to him as the perfect way to bow out.
Having to one day compete without De Bruyne, Silva and Gundogan is a daunting prospect for City, but you can't stand still in football. It's up to the club to ensure replacements are sought.
