Manchester City's dominance of English and European football has heralded a shift in the transfer policy of their major rivals. After watching Pep Guardiola's team build their treble success on the foundation of a formidable midfield, everybody else is now trying to sign midfielders.
In the Premier League, seven of the 10 biggest transfers so far this summer have involved midfielders. It will be eight once Arsenal break the £100 million barrier for the first time by completing their move for West Ham captain Declan Rice in the coming days.