Manchester City have undergone a major transformation this summer, spending a record £458 million in the Premier League transfer window—setting a new benchmark for a single season. The club’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, worked closely with director of football Hugo Viana to reshape the squad after replacing Pep Guardiola. Key signings included Enzo Fernandez, a £125 million move from Chelsea, which tied with a British record, and Elliot Anderson for £116 million from Nottingham Forest. An 18-year-old Moroccan international, Ayyoub Bouaddi, was also signed for £86 million, making these three players the primary focus of City’s spending. The summer also saw the departure of several key players, including captain Bernardo Silva, Rodri (winner of the 2024 Ballon d’Or), Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez. This has reshaped the midfield, with sources within the club expressing confidence in the transfer strategy, which also included January moves for Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi. The rebuild began in January 2025 after a difficult start to the season. Only four players from the squad that won the 2023 Champions League remain in the current team. Maresca now has a strong squad with two established players in most positions, and the club believes the team is stronger than at the start of last season. However, there are questions about how the new midfielders will integrate and whether the team has enough backup for Erling Haaland, their main striker. Since the start of 2026, City have spent £542 million on new signings but have also recouped £334 million from selling players like Savinho, Rodri, and Reijnders, resulting in a net spend of £208 million. This will increase further when Tottenham is obligated to buy Omar Marmoush for £60 million at the end of his loan. Maresca has experimented with different midfield formations, including a traditional "box" system with two holding midfielders and a "diamond" shape with one central midfielder. Players like Anderson and Guehi have been central to these setups, with Maresca seeing Anderson as a potential successor to Rodri. Bouaddi, the youngest of the three signings, is expected to play a supporting role, possibly replacing Anderson in certain matches. Meanwhile, Fernandez has shown versatility, playing both in the midfield and as an attacking midfielder. Foden has also been used in central roles, suggesting he might form a partnership with Cherki in the middle of the park. Despite the strong squad, Haaland remains City’s only first-team striker. The 26-year-old has been in fine form, scoring twice in the opening games of the Premier League season. However, if he is unavailable, the club must rely on players like Semenyo, Ndiaye, and others, none of whom have consistently scored double figures in the league in recent seasons. This could become a concern if Haaland needs to be rested or faces injury.