Paqueta interest raises new doubts over Foden's role

HAVING won the Treble by dropping full-backs from his starting XI, maybe Pep Guardiola is planning to defend City’s titles by getting rid of wingers as well. 

- SIMON BAJKOWSKI

No tactical innovation can be dismissed with the world’s best coach, and there is a feeling that the Blues still need at least one more signing in this transfer window. 

However, interest in West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta throws up a number of questions about the strategy of the squad for this campaign in a summer that has left fans scratching their heads.

Is Paqueta really similar in value to the £90m City offered for Declan Rice? And if he is, would it not have made more sense to pursue that interest while they were talking to West Ham about Rice?

Do City need another No.8 given they have already replaced Ilkay Gundogan with Mateo Kovacic, and are increasingly confident that Bernardo Silva will stay for another season? What does it say for the futures of Kalvin Phillips, James McAtee and Phil Foden if the coaching staff think they do?