Manchester City were pushed all the way by Manchester United before winning on penalties at Wembley on Saturday.

With another trophy in the bag – albeit the lesser recognised Community Shield – Pep Guardiola and his star-studded City side have laid down a firm marker to the Premier League’s chasing pack ahead of next weekend’s opening round of fixtures. A team in transition? Not quite.

In recent times, barring their recent all-Manchester FA Cup final – also beneath the famous arch, Manchester United have barely laid a glove on City on or off the pitch. It might be the right time, yet again, to beat them to the punch

As their rivals attempt to play catch up, City have been watchful in the transfer market. A swoop worth £20million for promising Brazilian starlet Savinho remains their only permanent addition so far this summer.

Arsenal have been similarly patient, but Tottenham have spent big and Chelsea have been Chelsea-like. Down the road, impending deals for Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt will take United’s spend under Ineos way beyond the £150million-mark with further signings wanted, but dependant on player sales being sanctioned.

City, armed by an unexpected £82million windfall, have no such financial constraints.

But what will Guardiola and key figures responsible for transfers at the Etihad Stadium do with that Julian Alvarez money? A revised search for back-up to Erling Haaland seems inevitable, even though there are in-house solutions.

Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva could each play as the false nine whenever Haaland is unavailable. However, that would dilute their main attributes and City have not been this dominant in modern times by leaving things to chance – they solve would-be problems almost before they become one.

A hiccup in last season’s FA Cup aside, City have rarely allowed United to get one over them under Guardiola and they should now attempt to one-up their neighbours in the transfer market by signing Ivan Toney this summer. His future at Brentford is far from certain and United are among those monitoring his situation.

Toney needs no introduction to Premier League fans. His overall record in the competition reads an impressive 36 goals and 11 assists from 85 appearances, while the England international could be available for just £40million this summer as he prepares to enter the final 12 months of his contract.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and United have been mooted as potential destinations.

For one reason or another, though, those clubs are yet to make a formal offer and City must swoop in. It would be indicative of their usually proactive work in the transfer market, and needs-must in attacking quarters with Alvarez seemingly on his way to Atletico Madrid.

Although he offers different qualities to Haaland, Toney deals in the same commodity; goals. The only stumbling block, perhaps, would rest on his desire to play week-in, week-out as City have more financial clout than those mentioned above to go pound-for-pound for Toney’s signature.

Ultimately, what City can offer – beyond money – is a greater likelihood of trophies. You cannot put a price on that and a surprise approach would certainly get Toney thinking.

It would also provide another knockout blow to United in their own recruitment drive.