Manchester City have resisted the temptation to sign a left-back after their pursuit of Harry Kane ended.
The Blues decided at the beginning of their transfer window that they would be focusing their efforts on a striker this summer following Sergio Aguero's departure rather than looking at a left-back.
Pep Guardiola has been unable to settle on a first-choice left-back for a whole season since Gael Clichy left in 2017 and the club looked into buying one last year but ultimately could not get a deal over the line. However, the performances of Aleks Zinchenko in the second half of the last campaign, coupled with the availability of Nathan Ake, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte and Benjamin Mendy, gave the club enough reassurances to devote their resources in this window into the attack.
As City tried to sign Harry Kane, they repeatedly made clear that there would be no bid for Sporting defender Nuno Mendes while links with other left-backs including Fulham's Antonee Robinson were also dismissed.
City have had time to strengthen since losing out on Kane and money that would have gone towards a transfer for the Tottenham striker but have opted against. That included on deadline day itself, when Mendes was reportedly offered to City for £36m but the club maintained their stance that they were not interested in purchasing a left-back this summer.
Zinchenko and Cancelo are set to play the majority of games at left-back, with the pair getting a half each in the 5-0 home win over Arsenal.
