The news that Valencia centre-back Nicolas Otamendi was in the process of signing for City was enough to raise a few eyebrows in Manchester earlier this week. After a watertight start to the season, with two clean sheets in successive 3-0 victories, it did not seem the prime moment to disturb a centre-back pairing of Vincent Kompany and Eliaquim Mangala that at last appeared to show proper signs of gelling.
Otamendi's arrival at the Etihad on Thursday will now open up a whole host of new discussions about whose place might be in danger.
Both Kompany and Mangala endured torrid campaigns last time out and the gradual breakdown of City's usually tight defence has often been cited as one of the main reasons for the club's distant second place finish in the Premier League last time out.