Manchester City are five weeks from their first pre-season friendly, and eight from the 2024/25 season opener at Wembley against Manchester United in the Community Shield.

With a month's worth of international football to come, the time to build a City squad ready to attack the new season is limited, and the futures of plenty of players remain up in the air.

Ederson, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva are all linked with high-profile exits, while some fringe players are also mentioned as possible transfers away from the Etihad. Incomings could include a new midfielder or potentially a new left-back.

So when City line up against United at Wembley, their first-choice XI could be hampered by players who have been involved in Euro 2024 and the Copa America, but their strongest line-up for the new season will be taking shape by that point.

With Stefan Ortega signing a new contract, the goalkeeper department is secured, and City will hope Ederson remains to continue the strongest one-two combination of 'keepers in the league.

In defence, John Stones can use the Euros to rediscover some form, aiming to displace Manu Akanji at centre-back. Stones and Ruben Dias remain the strongest partnership, but Akanji's form over the last two seasons has threatened that to the point that Stones couldn't get in the team at the end of the most recent campaign.

Kyle Walker admits his playing time will go down as he gets older, opening the door for Stones or Akanji to play at full-back and invert into midfield. Left-back will continue to be between Nathan Ake and Josko Gvardiol, with any combination of the six defenders mentioned a strong back four.

Rico Lewis is an adequate option on either side, or further forward as a number eight. Should Sergio Gomez leave, a possible full-back signing could be useful to provide cover on the left.

Rodri continues to be the best midfielder in the league, and the task over the summer will be to find an adequate rotation option to rest his legs. Bruno Guimaraes is seen as a potential replacement or successor for Kevin De Bruyne, but Pep Guardiola has called him a quality holding midfielder which could indicate how City would use a player of his talents.

Guimaraes has a reported PS100m release clause that will expire this month, or City could try and drive that price down by entering negotiations with Newcastle into July. Of all the names linked with the Etihad, his is an exciting one and would add depth to an area that will need refreshing in the coming transfer windows.

If De Bruyne stays, he could be as important as any new signing. He admits he is tempted by the money associated with a transfer to Saudi Arabia, however, City would love at least one more year of their talisman at the Etihad. While his performance levels may have fluctuated last season on his return from injury, his quality in the box and match-winning moments remained as crucial as ever.

Erling Haaland will remain at City for at least another season after confirmation from his agent this week, giving Julian Alvarez the task of deputising for the number nine, or De Bruyne, as much as possible. Jack Grealish needs to bounce back from a frustrating season and a brutal snub from the Euros and should start the season on the left.

Whether he stays there will be down to a number of factors, however. Phil Foden would be major competition on the left, especially if De Bruyne stays, as would Jeremy Doku - who finished the season brilliantly. Should Bernardo Silva stay, he could have ownership of the right-wing, and for all the rumours of another summer exit, Bernardo remains undroppable in the big games.

So Grealish will have to prove himself during pre-season and show Guardiola he deserves to keep his place when his teammates are back from the tournaments. A fully fit and firing Grealish would be a major boost for the title defence, however, giving the manager a headache every week for his combination of wingers and attackers.

Man City dream XI: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Rodri, Guimaraes, De Bruyne; Foden, Bernardo, Haaland.