Change is in the air at the Etihad
It has been a week of significant movement at Manchester City. Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and likely Savinho have all departed, leaving Enzo Maresca to reshape his squad as the new season approaches.
The manager will be grateful, then, for one constant: Erling Haaland's remarkable habit of hitting the ground running.
Since joining the club, the striker has scored seven goals in his first four matches of a campaign. That is not a slow burner. That is a statement of intent before most teams have found their rhythm.
Haaland's importance was underlined again over the summer, when his goals carried Norway to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. International tournaments can drain a player. For Haaland, they appear to have sharpened him.
Maresca, now the man in charge following Pep Guardiola's departure, has plenty of quality at his disposal for the opening Premier League fixture. But with three key figures out of the door, the spotlight falls squarely on the Norwegian.
City begin their league campaign this Sunday against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. The Blues are also the current FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, so the expectation is hardly modest.
In a summer of transition, Haaland's early-season form might just be the most reliable thing Maresca has.