Will be an interesting transfer market for Pep.
It feels like this season we had to be better defensively to make up for our lack of fire power up front, Pep was constantly tweaking our playstyle this season.
Does he have a clear way to play in mind next season? Is he going to try and replicate past seasons success (fast wide classical wingers) in a 433, or does he continue with this 442 where the wingers have more freedom?
The potential signing of Jack Grealish for the LW, and continued presence of Mahrez on RW might make it seem like the latter is more likely.
-----------------Foden------KdB
Grealish-----Gundogan-----Rodri------Mahrez
--------------Back---------------Four----------
Although it's also possible to play Foden LW, Sterling RW, and a midfield 3 (including false 9) of Grealish, Mahrez and KdB, and try to replicate the former system. This perhaps brings Sterling back to RW, seems people prefer him there (or Cancelo).
Foden----------------Grealish (false 9)-------------Sterling/Cancelo
------------KdB---------------------Mahrez
--------------------Rodri/Gundogan
--------------Back---------------Four----------
I think personally I'd like to see the latter system come back as I think Sterling RW is when we saw the best of him, and I think Grealish, Mahrez and KdB playing centrally would be unstoppable.
Now if we get a true striker in Haaland then this becomes complicated in trying to play all of them, but perhaps a 343 diamond should be unleashed in that case:
Foden----------------Haaland----------------Sterling/Cancelo
------------KdB-------Grealish------Mahrez
----------------------Rodri/Gundogan
-----Laporte----------Dias-------------Stones
Foden and Sterling are "kind of" like wingbacks here, but since we attack so often and use our wingers high and wide anyways, I think it's okay. This perhaps looks weak defensively, but I say if we have the fire power up front, then I prefer this approach.
I think this last approach would create the most "exciting" City attack we have ever seen... might leak a few goals though.