CLAUDIO GOMES - I learned so much from Guardiola. He is a true teacher of life and soccer

CITY need to sign a holding midfielder but as the transfer window goes on it looks increasingly unlikely.

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

With the financial demands deemed too high for any potential reinforcements, the burden is shifted back to Pep Guardiola and his squad; they have, after all, just won the Premier League.

Besides, there is an exciting prospect on tour in the United States who could emerge from nowhere to command a spot in the first-team squad and provide the cover without having to risk the market.

"It could be like what happened with Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz," says the manager. "He could stay with us, because from what we have seen in these days, the impression is good, so good."

The year is not 2024 but 2018, and Guardiola has just blown any City efforts to keep a lid on expectations for new 18-year-old midfielder Claudio Gomes.

The French midfielder arrived after an acrimonious end to his time at Paris Saint-Germain but was so highly thought of that he was flown out to be with the touring squad six years ago before his 18th birthday when his signing would be official, and played as soon as he was available against a star-studded Liverpool team. Gomes was not seen as the only possible cover for Fernandinho at the time, but concerns over whether Douglas Luiz would be granted a work permit raised his profile.

He would take some adaptation after barely playing at PSG for the previous six months and there was a language barrier to overcome, yet the potential was there.

There was an appearance in the final seconds of the Community Shield win over Chelsea that year and he made his debut at the Etihad in a Carabao Cup game against Fulham, although getting up to speed was taking longer than hoped. He headed off to PSV for the 2019-20 season but spent most of his time with their second team.