Manchester City have completed a sweeping squad overhaul this summer, spending a Premier League record £458 million — yet the biggest question hanging over the club is not about their new midfield but about who leads the line if Erling Haaland is unavailable.

A record-breaking rebuild

New manager Enzo Maresca, who succeeded Pep Guardiola, was backed fully by director of football Hugo Viana. City broke their own transfer record twice in a single window. First, £116 million was committed for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, then a joint-British record £125 million was spent on Enzo Fernandez — previously Maresca's captain at Chelsea. Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, arrived for £86 million to complete a midfield trio that accounted for the bulk of City's summer expenditure.

The exits of Bernardo Silva, Ballon d'Or holder Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez mean the City midfield has been completely transformed. Senior club sources are reported to be satisfied with business conducted both this summer and in January, when Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi were signed ahead of schedule.

In total, City have spent £542 million on new players since the turn of the year, though shrewd sales — including £75 million for Savinho, £65 million for Rodri, and £52 million for Reijnders — have reduced the net spend to approximately £208 million. A further £60 million is expected when Tottenham Hotspur fulfil their obligation to permanently sign Omar Marmoush at the end of his loan spell.

Selection headaches for Maresca

Just four players remain from the starting eleven and substitutes who featured the night Manchester City defeated Inter Milan in Istanbul to lift the 2023 UEFA Champions League. Yet Maresca now has established options in almost every position, and the club believe the current squad is stronger than it was at the start of last season.

In their opening Premier League fixtures, City have won back-to-back matches, giving Maresca an early selection dilemma given the depth available to him. Fernandez, Anderson, and Bouaddi are all capable of operating across multiple roles within Maresca's system, which has alternated between a midfield box and a diamond shape.

Anderson has anchored the midfield base in both outings so far, suggesting Maresca views him as the natural successor to Rodri. Bouaddi is expected to deputise in that role, while Mateo Kovacic — prominent in pre-season — has since dropped down the pecking order. Nico O'Reilly, previously used at left-back, is also likely to see more time in his natural midfield position following Gonzalez's departure.

The number 10 role has been shared between Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki. Given Foden's performances as a box-to-box midfielder last season, there is even the possibility both players operate through the centre together at some stage.

The Haaland problem

Despite the enormous outlay, City enter the new campaign with Haaland as their sole recognised striker. The 26-year-old finished last season as Premier League top scorer with 27 goals and has already netted twice in the opening two games of the current campaign.

Marmoush was permitted to join Tottenham Hotspur on loan after seeking regular first-team football, while 21-year-old Divin Mubama, who impressed during pre-season, moved to Championship side Southampton on loan. City believe their forward options provide enough flexibility without a direct replacement for Marmoush.

Deadline day signing Mamadou Ndiaye, a proven Premier League performer who cost £60 million, can operate through the middle, as can Semenyo — though the latter is predominantly a right-sided winger. However, of all City's attacking players, Semenyo is the only one to have reached double figures in Premier League goals in each of the past two seasons. Cherki, Jeremy Doku, and Ndiaye have never hit that mark, while Foden has struggled for consistency after scoring 19 Premier League goals in 2023-24.

Should Haaland require rest or suffer injury, City's reliance on those options — none of whom has a settled record as a centre-forward — could be tested sooner than the club would like.