Man City could hand iconic shirt numbers to two new signings after £102m transfer decision

It's been a quiet summer so far at Manchester City, a month on from the final game of a long season at Wembley.

In seven weeks, City will look for revenge against Manchester United in the Community Shield, with their pre-season campaign under way in less than a month. Friendlies against Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea follow, before a quick reunion with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge for the opening game of the Premier League season.

There has been no transfer activity so far at the Etihad, despite rumours of various incomings and outgoings, with the summer tournaments hampering the business that can be done. It may set City - and other clubs - up for a frantic pre-season involving fixtures and plenty of transfer activity in the second half of July and majority of August.

ALSO READ: Man City get major pre-season boost after late Euro 2024 drama leaves two players in limbo

ALSO READ: Arsenal and Liverpool FC are already helping Man City in the transfer window

For City, any incomings could depend on who leaves. Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are linked with exits, while Ederson is a target for various clubs in the Saudi Pro League. Savio is a target expected to arrive, but the Troyes winger is currently on duty with Brazil at the Copa America.

Outgoings will depend on the buyers available. Kalvin Phillips was the subject of various transfer links at the start of the window, but those have gone quiet. City may have to take a loss on the £42m paid for him two years ago, and could even have to sanction another loan if no clubs are willing to meet their asking price.

Then there is Joao Cancelo, who wants a return to Barcelona but the Catalan giants seem unable to pay any reasonable price for the full-back. City paid £60m for Cancelo in 2019 and while Pep Guardiola says he would be open to Cancelo rejoining his squad in pre-season, but he has been unwanted at the Etihad for 18 months and a permanent solution would be preferable for all parties. He is another who City may have to take a loss on, or consider another loan move.

If both Cancelo and Phillips were to move on, it would free up two iconic shirt numbers to offer new signings. Phillips took Vincent Kompany's No.4 shirt when he signed but has failed to live up to the weight of Kompany's legacy. If City were to sign a new midfielder, particularly support for Rodri in defensive midfield, the No.4 could be handed to a new addition.

Likewise, Cancelo took the No.7 when Raheem Sterling joined Chelsea, but had been sent to Bayern Munich just six months later and the number has been unworn since. Should Cancelo leave permanently, the number could be given to a new attacking arrival, or potentially given as an upgrade to an existing winger. The likes of Georgi Kinkladze, David White, Peter Barnes and Mike Summerbee have all worn it in the past.

It isn't unheard of for squad numbers of loaned-out players to be reassigned, so the futures of four and seven could indicate City's longer-term plans for Phillips and Cancelo if they cannot be sold this summer.