It is a desperately unfamiliar feeling for Manchester City at this time of year.
A week is left of the summer transfer window and City director of football Hugo Viana – in the words of one Premier League executive – is “expecting a fun few days”.
Quite how enjoyable it is depends on City’s ability to pull a rabbit from the hat in a week that may come to define their season.
A breakthrough in negotiations with Lille will see Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi join for £85m.
But with a £47m agreement to sell Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle United close, the intention is to bring in at least one more to compensate for the departure of Rodri to Barcelona.
