Manchester City were determined to be emphatic in the transfer market this summer but there are huge doubts in a key position
Pep Guardiola and Ederson
Ederson and Pep Guardiola
One normal day. Manchester City normally make a habit of them but they have been in short supply in the last week.
A trip to Palermo was out of the ordinary but it was when the Blues returned that things really started getting chaotic as transfer reports started about key individuals.
Tottenham's approach for Savinho emerged on Monday followed by frenzied links to Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, then on Tuesday City were said to have an agreement to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma with Ederson heading off to Galatasaray.
That isn't quite the reality, with the club insisting that they want to keep Ederson and that there have been no offers for him. That said, the interest in Donnarumma - who has seen all of his bridges at PSG burnt - has not been denied either.
And that is a concern with just days before the season starts - far more than whether Savinho goes or not. The Brazilian winger hasn't exactly taken the Etihad by storm in his first 12 months at the club, and while it would be a surprise if he was sold it wouldn't really alter the dynamics of the squad; City could go out and sign Rodrygo, or stick with what they've got.
The goalkeeping situation could fundamentally change the way City play, and at the very least means there are doubts about who will play in goal at Wolves. Currently, there appear to be four candidates.
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It's worth remembering what Ederson said in June, when he changed his tune from last summer's talk about potentially moving away by shutting down any hint of a transfer.
“My future is here,” the 31-year-old said. “Some friends send me a lot of news but 99% is fake news. I understand you guys – you need the news to put a like on social media or rant for the news.
“I understand but there’s a lot of fake news around my name. My head is here. It stays with City.
"It gives me everything to go back to the Premier League again and try to win the Champions League as well. My mind is staying in the club.”
Six weeks on, the fact that nobody is able to confirm that Ederson is indeed staying should ring alarm bells regardless of whether the club have had any official approaches.
It was only last week that Guardiola played down the idea that there would be more arrivals, almost laughing at the idea that there would be somebody new when the focus has to be on outgoings. If Ederson is one of them though, it looks certain that Donnarumma will come in to replace him.
That would have significant consequences for how City play from the back, given Donnarumma is significantly different from Ederson. It would also have significant consequences for the succession plan, given James Trafford signed two weeks ago and spoke after the Palermo game of his ambition to make the City No.1 shirt - the one he already literally possesses - his own for the next decade.
Going into the season with such uncertainty over a key position, as well as how it will impact the whole team, is not the best preparation for a side looking to show it means business after so much disappointment last season. Guardiola certainly won't get many questions about Wolves on Friday when he speaks to reporters.
There is still a chance that Ederson stays and Donnarumma doesn't arrive, and everyone forgets the noisy mayhem of this week as the team carries on as they were expected to. That would be welcome stability, yet it already doesn't look like an ideal start to their revenge mission in the Premier League and Champions League.
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