Man City vs Man Utd LIVE: Penalty shootout reaction in Community Shield

It is now very rare that either of those two, who were also the last two Champions League winners, spend significant money on players over the age of 23. Most of their recent high-profile signings for fees have been exactly along these lines, be that a 21-year-old Josko Gvardiol, a 19-year-old Jude Bellingham, a 21-year-old Erling Haaland or an 18-year-old Eduardo Camavinga. These are for reasons of tactics as well as long-term strategies. Younger players are more suited to the intense pressing that dominates the modern game and also means clubs are investing in the next best talent.

That points to something more in this, that will have far greater consequences than how the biggest teams look. Liverpool have also operated with this approach for years, while Chelsea are now taking it to extremes, having been influenced by Brighton. The latter were themselves greatly shaped by Dan Ashworth, who was also responsible for the prior “model club” policy at Brighton, and will imminently dictate ideology at Old Trafford.

It is a very old-fashioned route to the top, yet also a very modern one. A few years before joining the Premier League champions, Savinho was getting up at 5am to milk his grandparents’ cows on the family farm in Brazil. Manchester City was not on his mind then, he admitted. “I was really happy being on the farm,” he said, sounding like a throwback to the times when footballers had been miners and millworkers, trained in trades or primed to take over family businesses.

At 20, he has scored in the Copa America, as part of a Brazil forward line with the Champions League winners Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior, played a pivotal role in helping Girona complete a top three in LaLiga with Real Madrid and Barcelona and been bought to supply the City Galacticos. “I’m really looking forward to providing assists for [Erling] Haaland and other players like [Kevin] De Bruyne,” he said.

But City’s flagship summer signing arrived at the Etihad Stadium after a transfer with a difference; or perhaps a sign of things to come.

Spurs have been on the hunt for attacking reinforcements all summer and after Solanke emerged as the club’s preferred candidate, advanced talks began with the Cherries before an agreement was reached on Friday afternoon.

The deal could eventually be worth £65million, with Tottenham spending an initial £55m and a further £10m included in the transfer as add-ons.

Premier League clubs have made some eye-catching signings so far this summer.

Below, the PA news agency looks at five players who will be expected to make an impact at their new teams this season, including United’s Joshua Zirkzee and City’s Savinho, who was impressive on his debut today.

The Premier League season is now barely a week away from starting – and while some clubs have done business already in preparation for 2024/25, there are no doubt lots of transfers still ahead before the window shuts at the end of the month.

While the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United have made moves in defence, Chelsea have added squad options everywhere and champions Manchester City have brought in one attacking reinforcement, Liverpoolhave yet to do any incoming senior business at all, so expect that to change sooner or later at the very least.

Further down the table there are still moves in the works for West Ham, Tottenham, Newcastle and more, as top-flight teams look to get set for the campaign ahead.

But United finished 31 points behind City last season as they were beaten by Brighton, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Fulham, who ended up between ninth and 17th, and drew at home to relegated Burnley.

Guardiola revealed he gave his approval to the World Cup winner’s move and accepted Alvarez probably wanted more first-team football after understudying Erling Haaland.

Talks between the clubs are progressing well and United are expected to move for Bayern Munich’s Noussair Mazrouai if the right-back is sold.

Wan-Bissaka, who has one year left on his contract at Old Trafford, is likely to cost around £17m.

It had been thought personal terms could be an issue, given his salary at United, but there is growing confidence that he will move on.

Pep Guardiola was staring at the start of a season that could span 48 weeks for Manchester City. He has often sounded the alarm about the impact of a crowded schedule for players and the Club World Cup will only add to it. He also reflected on the challenge City face to retain the Premier League title. “Everyone wants the crown that we have worn for four years,” he said. “I understand it.” Some of his rivals do more than merely want it: they seek to strengthen to secure it. Manchester Unitedhave been more active in the transfer market. “They’ve done it for many years, but it’s not news; just when City spend,” noted Guardiola. It could be seen as an observation or a dig.

And if it has been a quiet summer in the blue side of Manchester, with only Savinho arriving, Julian Alvarez’s departure to Atletico Madrid raises the question if City will be weaker this season. “I’m very pleased with the squad for the quality of human beings and the quality,” countered Guardiola. He has touted the introduction of the teenager Nico O’Reilly to the squad and the return of James McAtee from loan at Sheffield United, while admitting Sergio Gomez, another fringe figure, is a loss.