Manchester City kick off their Club World Cup campaign next week and they will do so with a few new faces in the team.
After the mid-season transfer window splurge, City wasted no time in adding to their squad in the first phase of the summer's transfer window. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have been brought to the Etihad as Pep Guardiola's squad rebuild picks up pace.
All three will hope to play a key role out in the United States, but what is City's best XI? Our writers have picked their strongest City team:
Simon Bajkowski
Manchester City have spent £275m this year to improve their squad with eight new signings, so let's keep Bernardo Silva in midfield. A joke perhaps, but also probably City's best course of action.
Silva wasn't great last season but was also one of a handful of players who kept turning up even as the rest of the team fell apart around him. His performance levels were always going to go down when he was asked to fill in multiple positions each match, and it was no surprise to see his form improved as injuries subsided and he wasn't asked to cover for quite so many teammates.
Rodri is obviously the long-term answer in midfield but as he still feels his way back to fitness after eight months on the sidelines a pairing of Silva and Nico Gonzalez feels like the most stable midfield base, with new boy Reijnders edging out Ilkay Gundogan as long as he settles quickly.
Like Silva, Rico Lewis's reputation took a dive as last season played out yet it should be remembered he started the campaign like a steam train. In a better team, it would be nice to give him another go at right-back - especially because he can move into the middle with Rayan Ait-Nouri bombing down the left.
Omar Marmoush and Erling Haaland is a partnership that needs developing, and otherwise it is a toss-up for who to play in attack. Phil Foden needs to find his form, Oscar Bobb is pushing to regain his status in the squad, Jeremy Doku or Savinho could easily be included, but while nobody has laid a claim to the shirt why not hand it to Cherki on the back of his France debut to see what he can do.
XI: Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Silva, Reijnders, Cherki, Marmoush, Haaland
Tyrone Marshall
It's been a very good 10 days or so for City and a promising 2025 so far. Guardiola's squad looks a lot different than it did back in December and it's going to be fascinating to see how the pieces fit together in the United States.
The one area yet to be strengthened is right-back and that will surely be a focus when the window reopens on June 16. City need an upgrade there. For now, it is between Matheus Nunes and Lewis. I would look to rotate them but given the opposition in the first couple of games, it feels like a chance to try and build Lewis' confidence up. He can also invert more centrally with Ait-Nouri now providing width down the left.
The centre of defence at least looks secure. Josko Gvardiol and Dias formed a promising partnership towards the end of last season, while Ait-Nouri is an attacking left-back and should provide width and an attacking threat down that flank.
Rodri is back in the fold in time for this tournament and should hopefully be ready to start, at least by the time the assignments get a little tougher anyway, starting with the Juventus fixture. Reijnders looks a good partner for him with Nico Gonzalez already consigned to a bench role after his January move.
One of the big questions is what to do with Foden. A player who ended the season despondent and missed the recent England fixtures, he needs to rediscover his zest and sparkle. Maybe this is a chance to do that and that De Bruyne-shaped hole could be his to fill.
Talking of internationals, Doku was exceptional for Belgium and could run rings around Wydad and Al-Ain, so he can start on the left, with Cherki on the right. Haaland leads the line, with Marmoush in reserve.
XI: Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Doku, Haaland
Alex James
As things stand City probably have one problem position following their blistering start to the summer transfer window. Three first-team-ready signings for just over £100million represents excellent business and the early addition of the trio will maximise the bedding in time ahead of the domestic season.
The lingering question remains at right back, with Kyle Walker's Etihad career over. Guardiola utilised Nunes and Lewis in that role last term and neither truly convinced. Nunes had his moments but also contributed several costly errors while Lewis faded after a bright start to the campaign. The latter has the best all round game for the position and also the potential to improve further so if no new signings arrive, he gets the nod for me.
The rest of the backline picks itself with Ruben Dias and Gvardiol showing their potential as a centre back pairing in the closing weeks of last season and Ait-Nouri solving a long-term issue at left back.
In midfield, Rodri and Reijnders looks a quality, combative and destructive pairing, with Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic in reserve.
Erling Haaland will obviously lead the line and there are options aplenty for the three roles behind the Norwegian even with Kevin De Bruyne's departure.
Foden had an off-season last term but he dragged City to the title a little over 12 months ago and makes my XI. Cherki could provide the key to unlock defences on one side and Marmoush showed his capabilities off the left following his January arrival.
Doku and Savinho are excellent gamechangers while Bobb could force his way into the reckoning given how impressive he was in pre-season a year ago.
And that's before we even get to experienced duo Gundogan and Silva, who have offered so much in a variety of roles in recent years.
XI: Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Gvardiol, Ait-Nouri, Rodri, Reijnders, Foden, Cherki, Marmoush, Haaland
