It's really crazy how Manchester City already successfully sign Gvardiol, they already have so many world class defenders e.g. Akanji, Stones, Walker, Cancelo, Ake, and Dias. Is there any striker can destroy these defenders? I really doubt it. There's no loophole in Manchester City's squad, their current squad remind me with Barcelona squad in 2008/2009 where it's one of the best squad in football history.
They are building for themselves a formidable squad that even when their first eleven are reserved, the second can be unbeatable as well. I like the pattern at which Guardiola is training the boys, instilling such confidence that even on less than better days, they still manage to perform well.
The back line built by Pep Guardiola this season will be very difficult for opponents to penetrate. With so many choices of players and their respective abilities, it's clear that this is balanced. So it won't be difficult if one of the players is absent. Pep Guardiola is looking to leave a legacy before he leaves, though Man City will not allow that to happen. The target for next season is to maintain the treble winner, adequate finances will not make Man City difficult in any case. Defensive gaps that seem difficult for opponents to find.
Barca are always interested in quality players even when they know it will be impossible for them to get. They want to try every possible to uplift them team back to the way it used to be but to do that you need finance to add high quality players to the team. They should rest for now and focus on building their current players and their academy players instead of trying to acquire players they can’t afford and in the end it may result to salary cut of some players in order to pay the wages of these players.
I agree more with the mindset as you said because at the moment Barcelona finances are really bad and maybe the best way is to improve by recruiting academy players and educating these young players so they can have strong new talents and if that works Barcelona can sell those player and recover their finances for the next few seasons.
Even though in the midst of Barcelona's poor finances, they can still get high-quality players and that proves how serious Barcelona is in preparing a better future. However, the question is are the players brought in ready to survive in the midst of Barcelona's finances like this? they also need to be paid and compensated accordingly.