With all four available trophies still in their sights, Pep Guardiola will be acutely aware of the squad depth his Manchester City will require if they are to achieve such a feat.
One imagines that this realistion was a contributing factor to Guardiola's fury in the wake of Leroy Sane's injury sustained against Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon.
The victim of a horrendous challenge, City will now be without the German's services for a number of weeks. Having already expressed their interest in Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, seeing the Chilean leave for Manchester United instead no doubt informed City's interest in Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez.
A phenomenal talent who had made his intentions clear, Guardiola would ultimately have to do without any attacking additions to his side for the time being.
Mahrez, a critical component of Leicester's title-winning side of 2015/16, was absent as Claude Puel's side went down 2-1 to Everton last night.
While the Algerian international is undoubtedly disheartened with Leicester's unwillingness to allow him move, John Giles has little sympathy for his plight.
Reportedly "depressed" that the deal had not gone in his favour, Giles, speaking on Off The Ball, was not overly impressed by the prospect that this should affect his form with Leicester for the remainder of the season:
Well he has gone missing at the moment, and I read the article this morning [citing his "depression"] and you'd think he'd been treated dreadfully badly by Leicester and he was a total victim.
Now, the fact is, he is on £100,000 a week and he has two and a half years left on his contract, so, I wouldn't be feeling too sorry for him to be honest. ... You can't just lay down your tools because Leicester won't let him go.
The fact he is gone missing and doesn't want to play, I wonder is he giving his £100,000 a week back then?
Never one to suffer sulkers, Giles does believe "Mahrez is a very skillful player and probably would fit into the Manchester City team."
For now, we will have to wait until the summer window at the very least.
