The Shape of Things to Come

Enzo Maresca's inbox is full, and not just with farewell messages. The Italian walks into the Etihad tasked with replacing the irreplaceable, picking up a squad that has just waved goodbye to ten trophy-laden years under Pep Guardiola and, this summer alone, to John Stones, Nathan Ake and Bernardo Silva.

The first question was always going to be about shape. At Chelsea, Maresca settled on a 4-2-3-1, and there is little reason to think he abandons it now. The second question is about personnel, and here the picture gets interesting.

Building From the Back

Maresca has made his feelings on ball-playing goalkeepers plain. "Enzo knows if he doesn't play back, I will change him. If the goalkeeper plays long, I will change him," he once said. That puts James Trafford, a man who knows the manager's methods from City's Under-21s, firmly in the frame between the sticks.

In front of him, there is a problem. City do not have a single natural right-back on the books. Matheus Nunes has filled in admirably this season, but the perpetual links with Malo Gusto suggest the club are hunting for a more permanent answer. Guehi, meanwhile, looks a cornerstone of the defence for years to come.

The Midfield Puzzle

The biggest headache sits in the middle. Guardiola told reporters that "there is not one player that will turn [down] the chance to play for [Real] Madrid", and with Rodri being linked with a move away, that warning carries weight. "Always my wish is that Rodri could stay as long as possible in this club," Guardiola added, but wishes do not always hold in football.

Should Rodri go, the £116million price tag attached to Elliot Anderson starts to make sense. "He's a machine," the logic goes, and the outlay suddenly looks less extravagant. There are also those eyebrow-raising links to Enzo Fernandez, which would certainly add some spice to the midfield.

Wide Options

Out wide, the picture is brighter. Jeremy Doku transformed into one of City's most decisive, devastatingly effective players last season, and Phil Foden has just signed on until 2030, a clear signal of his importance. The interest in Antoine Semenyo, fresh from an inspired match-winner in the FA Cup final, suggests Maresca wants more of the same directness.

It is a squad in transition, with holes to fill and big shoes to step into. Maresca's City will not look like Guardiola's City, but the early signs are that he knows exactly what he wants. Whether he gets it before the window shuts is another matter.