Manchester City may still decide to promote an internal player to fill Julian Alvarez’s position this month, so a replacement is not yet confirmed.
Oscar Bobb is the leading candidate, having been the standout player during the team’s preseason tour of the United States. Since turning 21 in mid-July, the Norwegian international has provided three assists and scored two goals in four high-scoring friendlies.
Bobb appears set for a more significant role after making 26 appearances last season, with only seven as a substitute. His strong performances without Alvarez have further boosted his chances.
The same applies to James McAtee, who contributed two assists against Chelsea and scored in the Milan match. Nico O’Reilly also made an impact, assisting Bobb’s first goal against Celtic and scoring against Barcelona.
Both players are anticipated to stay in the starting lineup this season. Additionally, Phil Foden is expected to have a more prominent role compared to last season.
As for new acquisitions, Savinho is expected to showcase his talent in the Community Shield match against Manchester United. Claudio Echeverri, who will return from his loan at River Plate in January, is also anticipated to join the squad.
Pep Guardiola has mentioned that if a player departs, the team will consider expanding the squad, but finding the right replacement by the end of the month will be challenging. He indicated that the team will likely retain the same composition as last season, so it’s unlikely that many new players will join for the original £64 million fee or the funds received from the sales of Sergio Gomez, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Doyle, and Yan Couto.