Man City have to address Ferran Soriano transfer warning this summer

The year is 2022. Manchester City have just won the Premier League for the fourth time in five years, pipping Liverpool by a point after a dramatic comeback against Aston Villa on the final day, and Erling Haaland has been announced as the latest signing.

Things can't get much better, so when CEO Ferran Soriano is asked about the transfer market his answer reflects their position of strength.

"We need to change two things," he said. "We need a striker - we have it [in Haaland] - and we need a replacement for Fernandinho. We have one, Rodri, but we need another because the season is very long."

City would add goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on a free transfer as backup for Ederson and also added defender Manu Akanji at the last minute when Pep Guardiola had concerns over the depth of his backline, but the midfield signing was Kalvin Phillips. Phillips had impressed for Leeds in the Premier League and performed for England at major tournaments.

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Two summers later, Phillips is nowhere near City's plans, Soriano is warning that the increasing schedule of games in the calendar marks a 'crisis' and Rodri has taken to publicly pleading for rest after a request to coaches last summer went largely unheard. The Spanish midfielder almost missed as many games through suspension last season as he was afforded a rest.

Convincing a player to come and be second fiddle to Rodri isn't the easiest - Declan Rice has been vindicated with picking Arsenal last summer even if he does not have a Premier League winners' medal - but that should not deter City from acting. Julian Alvarez is living proof that you can get a very good player to be backup for the best player for their position in the world, so it can be done.

If Soriano knew it was true in 2022, he also knew it was true in 2023 when they moved for Rice and also knows it to be true for this summer. As Rodri turns out for Spain at the European Championship, City need to be busy protecting him for the future slogs to come.

There may seem like more important fires to put out in the transfer window and even in the midfield, with the futures of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva uncertain heading into the summer. Savio is expected to arrive, although whether he stays in Guardiola's squad remains to be seen.

But as much as signing a squad player may not seem the most eye-catching, it is even more essential than it was two years ago to give Rodri the support that he needs to remain the best player in his position.