MANCHESTER CITY got their business done early this season, bringing in a handful of players in the opening weeks of the transfer window and, perhaps more surprisingly, selling a couple of big-name club favourites.

They made a move for Argentine forward Julian Alvarez back in January but loaned him straight back to River Plate until this summer.

Early on in the transfer window, they met the €60m release clause in the Borussia Dortmund contract of long-time target Erling Haaland, adding a player who could potentially be one of the best centre-forwards in the world to an already star-studded attack.

Then Kalvin Phillips arrived from Leeds for £45m and a new goalkeeper, Stefan Ortega, arrived on a free from Armenia Bielefeld as current Ederson backup, Zack Steffen, moves to Middlesbrough on loan seeking regular game time ahead of the United States’ participation in this year’s World Cup.

Bringing in new players early in the window is a bonus as it means they get the full pre-season to work with. They have time to settle into the changing room dynamic and become accustomed to the team’s tactics and style. This can be especially important in a Guardiola side where it can take certain players time to adjust to his methods, though some do pick it up fairly quickly.

It might be easier for Haaland as his job isn’t likely to change much from the one he’s been doing for much of his career — scoring loads of goals. This, after all, is what City signed him for and they are unlikely to want to change his style too much, even though there will be some work to be done to ensure he’s able to work well with those tasked with creating chances for him.

“We have been monitoring Erling for several years now, so we are delighted to bring him here to Manchester City,” said the club’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain.

“He is a huge talent and has been one of the best strikers in Europe over the last few seasons. His goalscoring record is exceptional and his performances at Borussia Dortmund and in the Champions League, in particular, have proved he can succeed at the highest level.

“Erling has everything we want in a striker and we are certain he will excel in this squad and this system.”

Perhaps more surprising are the outgoings, or at least two of them. City regularly buy and sell below the surface within their City Football Group network. Names such as Nahuel Bustos, Diego Rosa, Filip Stevanovic, and Ante Palaversa may not be familiar with Premier League followers, but they are players City signed in recent years and could be sold in coming years.

It’s less common to see City selling their first-team players. Even when the likes of Leroy Sane and Angelino moved on, there was a sense that they didn’t quite fit what Guardiola was looking for, so the club were happy to let them leave.

This is why the sales of Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are unusual, perhaps almost unsettling, for anyone who follows City.

Sterling has been one of the club’s marquee players since arriving from rivals Liverpool in 2015. The England international’s four league titles won since making the switch have become part of the growing rivalry between City and Liverpool since the pair emerged as the two best clubs in England. Sterling is undoubtedly one of England’s outstanding players, adding extra value to any squad as one of the best homegrown players around. Aged 27, he is in his peak years as a footballer. So to sell him to a potential rival, Chelsea, for a fee that could reach £50m with add-ons, feels significant.

Jesus, meanwhile, has been an important, versatile member of the forward line. A hard-working attacker who puts as much into his defensive play and off-the-ball movement as he does into his work with the ball at his feet. During City’s recent period of success, only Sterling and Sergio Aguero have scored more goals than Jesus, and only Aguero averaged more goals per game.

Aguero retired a City legend and all-time top scorer having played out his peak years with the club, but Sterling and Jesus will play theirs elsewhere.

Those outgoings combined with the new arrivals this summer will bring a freshness to City’s line-up. Though they have made at least one key signing each season under their Catalan manager, this feels very much like a new-look team rather than an evolution of an existing one.

It’s a new version of Guardiola’s City, which could see key roles for Jack Grealish and Phil Foden as well as the new signings. If Marc Cucarella is brought in from Brighton, this will also add a new dynamic to their left side. The former Barcelona youth would bring something different to the more midfielder-like Oleksandr Zinchenko, who could also leave this summer, and the right-footed Joao Cancelo who appeared to suffer from fatigue from playing too many games last season.

This might be the refresh City need to finally win the Champions League. A lot of the players they have in their squad now are more direct, make-things-happen type players who can help convert their possession into goals and success. It’s the type of ruthlessness needed to win the top prize in knockout club football.

Haaland will be key to this, though if the Norwegian is rotated or unavailable for any reason, Alvarez may also have to step up sooner than expected. The talismanic Kevin De Bruyne remains important, too, but having just turned 31 this might be the last chance for one of the best midfielders we have seen to win club football’s biggest prize.

There is plenty of movement at City ahead of the new season, and it remains to be seen whether this causes more disruption to them or their opposition. Regardless, it’s probably seen as a risk worth taking for Guardiola and Begiristain. Guardiola himself may also be revitalised by this opportunity to coach new players as he enters his seventh year at the club, one which could be the most intriguing yet.