Manchester City kick off the Premier League campaign against Bournemouth today with uncertainty swirling around the Etihad.
The Blues' transfer activity in recent weeks has seen several first-team players leave and more could follow. It means there are questions over the recruitment strategy and concerns over how City will fare in their first season in a decade without Pep Guardiola at the helm.
Maresca calm over signings
Boss Enzo Maresca is calm and remains confident that the Blues will secure the signings they need before deadline day on September 1, but ahead of Sunday’s opener the squad looks a little threadbare if still full of quality.
City are strongest at the back and while there are question marks over Gianluigi Donnarumma after his shaky showing in the Community Shield last Sunday, the Italian is the undisputed first choice.
Defensive and midfield options
Matheus Nunes is fit again to come in at right back while Ruben Dias is likely to skipper the side from centre half. Marc Guehi could edge out Josko Gvardiol to partner the captain unless the Croatia international plays left back and Nico O’Reilly moves into midfield. The likelihood though is that O’Reilly starts in the position he made his own last season.
In midfield, Elliot Anderson will start and if O’Reilly is at left back it seems a choice between Mateo Kovacic and Nico Gonzalez to partner the £116m man unless Rico Lewis is parachuted in. Given Gonzalez has been linked with a move away, Kovacic could keep his place despite a disappointing display in Cardiff.
Forward line concerns
Jeremy Doku’s injury means there are questions further forward. Antoine Semenyo shone on the left in pre-season and could switch sides but that would likely mean Phil Foden playing off the right. The other option would be to use Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left or hand Jack Grealish a start and complete a remarkable City turnaround. Rayan Cherki and Foden are competing for the No.10 role behind Erling Haaland and the loser in that battle could be shunted wide this weekend.
Predicted City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Kovacic, Cherki; Semenyo, Foden, Haaland.
