I've got this little feeling that we haven't really been buying what I would consider "Pep" style players.
Losing two front pressing forwards. Buying a Battlecruiser for a Centre Forward rather than a skillful one. All rounder Fern is replaced by a grafter (Philips). He's always had an outright pacy winger as well. Made a lot of use for Pedro at Barca, and then Robben, Costa, Coman.
Tho Cucu is a good shout, he'd fit in nicely, he's not a better footballer on the ball than Zinc.
Paqueta... good player. Skills for sure. But that silky touch I'd think of for a Pep midfield? Not really. Now Nunes? Admittedly it's a weak sort of link. But he's an imposing box-to-boxer. Bellingham's been talked of but he is an athletic sort who can play rather than an exceptionally skilled one.
Also, left footers. Take out the two CBs and there really are not many left here now. Haaland I suppose but it's realy the build up + wingers I'm thinking of.
Overall, tho. Gab, Aguero, Zinch, Raheem. A lot of technical skill in that lot - for position. Even Raz, ok, touch was hit and miss, but he was so good at dribbles in the box. Lose Bernie, the silkiest touch in CM's in all Europe, for someone like Nunes, or even Bellingham, and wow, that's starting to look very different indeed.
Very interesting stuff.