Manchester City are braced for a busy end to the summer transfer window.
Manchester City midfielder Rodri
Rodri will line up for Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday night
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And then there was one. No club sent more players to the World Cup than Manchester City with 17 Blues lining up in North America. Now, with the final taking place tonight (8pm), only Rodri remains.
The Blues star has looked back to his best this summer, particularly in Spain's semi-final win over France where he delivered a masterclass to help his side into the final. Standing in their way are holders Argentina with Spain seeking a second World Cup triumph to add to their 2010 success.
Should they achieve it, Rodri would join an exclusive club of players who have won the Champions League, World Cup and Ballon d'Or, as well as further enhancing his reputation as one of the game's best.
City hope he will still be at the Etihad next season but there is uncertainty around the 30-year-old's future with Real Madrid continually linked with a move and Rodri's contract expiring in 12 months.
His performances this summer suggest he is getting back to his sensational best and, once the tournament finishes, there will be a clearer indication of what the midfielder wants to do next.
Speaking about his future before the World Cup began, Rodri said: "With a World Cup ahead, my responsibility is to stay focused. Anything related to my future will wait until after the World Cup."
He is set to undergo surgery post-World Cup that will sideline him for a few weeks, but that wouldn't preclude a transfer being completed should the player indicate a desire to leave and City sanction a move. Rodri is not the only City player with question marks over his future.
James Trafford is another who was involved in the final weekend of the World Cup with the goalkeeper widely expected to seek a move away from City to help his desire of being first choice for club and country. Newcastle United are keen on the £30million man and could ramp up their interest when the World Cup is over.
Trafford will also want to get an indication from new City boss Enzo Maresca on his thoughts on the Blues goalkeeping situation moving forward, but it seems far-fetched to think that Maresca will demote Gianluigi Donnarumma.
For his part, Trafford spoke of his desire to address his future post-World Cup. Speaking before the tournament, he said, when asked if he needed to be first choice at club level to have a chance of being England's No.1: "History says yeah. I think there hasn’t been a goalie start for any of the top nations that isn't a No.1 at the club, so going off history, I'd say yes. You never know, whether I move, whether I don't move, I do what's right for me and my career.”
There are other Blues who have been away on World Cup duty whose short-term future is unknown. Omar Marmoush endured a difficult campaign last term and must again face up to the prospect of playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland, while Tijjani Reijnders has been linked with an exit despite only arriving 12 months ago.
Both seem perhaps more likely to stay than depart, but a lot will depend on Maresca's squad view. He welcomes his players back into pre-season training on Monday and will get a chance to run the rule over Marmoush and Reijnders when they link up with the Blues on the tour of Asia.
There are also questions over Mateo Kovacic, who is entering the final year of his contract and struggled with injuries last season, while Ruben Dias has been linked with a move to Real Madrid even though the Portugal international is a potential new captain for City following his countryman Bernardo Silva's absence.
It all means there is plenty for Maresca to ponder and address as the countdown to the new season begins in earnest.