It is not very often that Manchester City’s midfield appears to be so unsettled, but Pep Guardiola enters the new season with two vacancies in the middle of the field. But where there are gaps, there are opportunities; all that’s required is for someone to seize those chances.

There will only be a transient presence in one of the positions. Kevin De Bruyne heroically pushed on with a hamstring injury throughout the vital end-of-season run-in as City moved in on the triple. However, the wear and tear finally caught up with him at the worst possible time, which was half an hour into the Champions League final. He was unable to continue playing.

As a result of the hamstring injury, it is anticipated that De Bruyne will miss the beginning of the new season. Given the severity of the injuries, a time schedule for his recuperation has not been formally verified, but it may be projected. In the event that the 32-year-old is unable to participate in the opening games, it will be necessary to find replacements for both of the attacking midfield spots.

The fact that Ilkay Gundogan, who usually played beside him, left the team to join Barcelona explains why they are no longer together. It is a major blow to lose the captain, who was so important to the three-peat success, and it will be interesting to see how Guardiola sets up his midfield without one of his most important players.

The good news for City is that they still have a number of candidates, and if De Bruyne is out for some time, it will give them more opportunities to establish themselves in the club and make their claim to the position. It is expected that De Bruyne would return to his starting role once he has fully recovered from his injury; however, the spot in the middle that Gundogan occupied is currently vacant and waiting to be filled by the best player.

Mateo Kovacic is the most obvious candidate in this race. The accomplished Croatian international might not be considered as a direct successor for Gundogan, but he has already donned Gundogan’s No. 8 shirt and is made of the same stuff.

The former Chelsea player might not be as much of a goal threat and is obviously not as embedded in the system just yet, but he is just as energetic, elegant when he is in possession, combative, and tactically clever as his counterparts. It would appear that Kovacic is the player who is best prepared to fill the shoes of Gundogan.

On the other hand, perhaps Phil Foden should finally start playing in the middle of the field. The hometown hero was supposed to be the next David Silva, but his manager, Pep Guardiola, has been playing him on the wing because he doesn’t think the player is mature enough to handle the responsibilities of a central role.

This was the case up until the final few weeks of the season, during which he was gradually given more minutes in the midfield, which ultimately resulted in Foden replacing De Bruyne in Istanbul. Because he was one of the few players who did not allow himself to be intimidated by the significance of the game, he was able to perform exceptionally well and contribute to City coming to life after a tense beginning. It’s possible that he’s reached a point where he can confidently assume the role permanently.

Julian Alvarez has had to adapt his game since moving to City as there is no way he is leading the line when Erling Haaland is fit and the Argentine has done so excellently. Alvarez has often come in when De Bruyne has been rested and has looked really good when given chances in the attacking-midfield position. His versatility will make him so useful to Guardiola and if he’s given a chance he may impress enough to take the role more regularly.

In contrast, Kalvin Phillips had a disɑstrous first season at the Etihad and made a tiny, if any, impact on a successful campaign. He is taking a strong stance of staying put and fιghting for his place but huge improvements will be needed if he’s to increase his meagre minutes.

Gundogan’s departure might mean he’s now first in reserve to Rodri – though Kovacic can also play a holding role – but Phillips has shown in the past he has the skills required to play further forward. It still feels unlikely he will get a chance but if one comes his way he has to take it as there won’t be many others.

Finally, City has many great young players who should strive to take advantage of the opportunity and ɑrgue for more action. Cole Palmer didn’t develop as much as anticipated last season, but he still possesses a ton of talent, which he demonstrated during England Under-21s’ victory at the European Championship.

A fantastic opportunity has also come to James McAtee. The playmaker’s achievements at Sheffield United last season helped the Blades earn promotion, and Guardiola was impressed with the 20-year-old’s fortitude after he overcame a rough start to shine there. In order to see if he can force his way into the team, City has turned down considerable transfer interest in him this summer.