Manchester City has completely revamped their squad, including the midfield, spending a record £458 million this summer. However, these massive outlays have not addressed one potentially serious question: who will step in for Erling Haaland if the Norwegian is unavailable?
New head coach Enzo Maresca has enjoyed full backing from sporting director Hugo Viana in his first transfer window following Pep Guardiola's departure.
This summer, the club broke the British transfer record twice.
First, City splashed £125 million on Enzo Fernandez, the former Chelsea captain under Maresca. Then they agreed to pay £116 million for Elliott Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Additionally, £86 million was forked out for 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi.
These three signings formed the backbone of Manchester City's summer campaign.
However, the team said goodbye to captain Bernardo Silva, Ballon d'Or holder Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez, resulting in a complete overhaul of their midfield unit.
Within the club, there's satisfaction not only with the summer's work but also with efforts made since January, when plans to acquire long-term targets Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi were accelerated.
In fact, the reshaping of the squad that triumphed in the Champions League in 2023 really began back in January 2025 after a rocky start to the season.
Currently, just four players from the starting XI and bench from the final against Inter remain at the club.
Now, Maresca has the luxury of having at least two experienced players for nearly every position.
City believes this squad is stronger than the one that kicked off last season. The hierarchy is confident this was achieved through calmness in the transfer market and trust in the chosen strategy.
But there are still questions.
How will Maresca fit all these new midfielders into his setup? And has City really left itself without a proper replacement for Haaland following such hefty expenditures?
💰City spends big but knows how to sell
Since the beginning of the year, Manchester City's spending has already hit £542 million, but significantly less attention is given to the club’s outgoing work.
During this period, City has reportedly made around £334 million in sales.
Notably, the club received:
- £75 million for Savinho;
- £65 million for Rodri;
- £52 million for Tijjani Reijnders.
This puts the club’s net spending for 2026 at approximately £208 million.
Moreover, this figure is expected to rise with the mandatory buyout of Omar Marmush by Tottenham for £60 million after his loan concludes next season.
This summer, the hierarchy adhered to a principle of 'one in, one out'.
Almost every player who left the club had their position filled, except for Nico Gonzalez and Marmush.
With plenty of options on the left flank, it’s expected that Nico O’Reilly will switch to his natural position in midfield to compensate for Gonzalez’s departure.
City see the hefty £125 million price tag for Fernandez as a justified investment; the player has already shown he can win at the highest level and should bolster their midfield.
Anderson was the club’s primary target this summer, while 18-year-old Bouaddi is considered a potential world-class talent.
City has won their opening two matches of the Premier League season, but Maresca now faces the challenge of selecting a strong lineup practically every game.
🧠How will Maresca utilise the new midfielders?
Fernandez, Bouaddi, and Anderson are capable of playing in several roles within Maresca's system.
The Italian manager has implemented two main formations in the midfield at City - a 'box' and a diamond.
The main difference is that, with the box setup, the team utilises two dedicated holding midfielders, whereas the diamond employs just one.
In their match against Bournemouth, Guehi and Anderson formed the base of the midfield. O’Reilly positioned himself slightly left, while right-back Rico Lewis shifted into the centre, creating an extra player in the midfield.
Against Crystal Palace, Josko Gvardiol played left, while O’Reilly occupied the right, with Ryan Cherki operating ahead of them. The structure resembled more of a diamond.
Anderson, who plays a more static role deeper, appears to be the frontrunner to succeed Rodri.
Maresca praises Bouaddi highly but continually reminds that he is still at a young age. It’s likely the 18-year-old will often play the role of stand-in for Anderson.
In the Crystal Palace match, Bouaddi replaced Anderson, shortly followed by Mateo Kovacic entering the pitch.
In pre-season, the Croatian looked like the prime candidate for the holding midfielder role, but has since gradually dropped down the hierarchy.
When coming on, Kovacic’s positioning was higher in the diamond, while Bouaddi remained deeper.
Then the players swapped roles: Kovacic dropped deeper, while Bouaddi pushed forward.
This versatility could be one of the main advantages of City’s new midfield.
Fernandez can also operate either deep or as an attacking midfielder from both flanks.
The number ten role is currently shared by Phil Foden and Ryan Cherki.
Foden has been forced to play on the right due to injuries in matches against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, but Maresca has repeatedly lauded his qualities centrally.
After strong performances as a box-to-box midfielder last season, there is a possibility that Foden and Cherki could both operate through the middle at some point this season.
⚠️ But what about replacing Haaland?
Despite all the positives from the transfer window, Erling Haaland is now the only central striker at Manchester City in the first team.
The 26-year-old Norwegian is tremendously important to the team. Last season, he finished top of the Premier League scoring charts with 27 goals, and he started this campaign with two goals in as many matches.
But what happens if Haaland gets injured or needs a rest?
Omar Marmush was keen for regular first-team football, which was why he was loaned to Tottenham.
21-year-old Divin Mubama, who shone in pre-season, has gone on loan to Southampton in the Championship.
At Manchester City, the belief is that a direct replacement for Marmush was unnecessary thanks to the versatility of other players.
Antoine Semenyo primarily plays on the right, but can also play in the central striker role. Last season, he filled in there several times in cup matches.
Another option is Iliman Ndiaye, signed on deadline day for £65 million. The Senegalese can also play as a number nine and adds versatility and depth to the team.
However, there's a crucial issue at hand.
Of all the attacking midfielders, wingers, and forwards at City, only Semenyo has scored double figures in the Premier League in any of the last seasons.
Cherki, Jeremy Doku, and Ndiaye have yet to hit the 10-goal mark in any season in the league.
Foden is capable of achieving this feat — he netted 19 goals in the 2023/24 Premier League season, but his last two seasons have been less stable.
Therefore, much will depend on whether several players can significantly improve their goal-scoring.
If Haaland suffers an injury or Maresca must give him regular rests, the lack of a proper backup striker could become one of Manchester City's main issues this season.
