Manchester United are more advanced in their preparation while Manchester City continue with convoluted transfer policy... what should we expect from their pre-season derby in America?

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Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola will oversee the first ever Manchester derby played on foreign soil at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

City and United saw last summer's friendly called off in farcical circumstances over in China but will finally lock horns abroad.

Here, Sportsmail looks at what sort of shape the two sides are in ahead of kick-off in the early hours of Friday morning.

How has pre-season gone so far?

This is City's first friendly but United have been stationed in the States for a week with two games already under their belt.

LA Galaxy proved a complete stroll, albeit against a heavily depleted wide, while Real Salt Late was a little tougher and involved Antonio Valencia's red card for an act of retribution.

Yaya Toure, not on the flight out earlier this week, finally joined the rest of Guardiola's first team squad in Houston on Thursday morning. Leroy Sane, who had been recovering from a nose operation, is thought to be on his way to the US.

Marcus Rashford (left) scored twice as Manchester United beat LA Galaxy 5-2 in pre-season

Guardiola is also without new signing Bernardo Silva, away on holiday after the Confederations Cup. Claudio Bravo, who the manager insists will remain at the Etihad Stadium, is also on a break.

He could fly over at some point next week, although young goalkeepers Daniel Grimshaw and Aro Muric are acting as Ederson's deputies.

It all means United are ahead of City in terms of preparation and it is fair to assume that should be reflected at the NRG.

Yaya Toure (right) is finally in America with Manchester City having joined them on Thursday

How's the transfer business been?

City were so quick off the mark last month as Ederson and Bernardo arrived - for money the club are more than content with - but it slowed as Txiki Begiristain went on the hunt for full backs.

Kyle Walker secured a £50million move from Tottenham but there is a lack of depth on the left at the moment, with only Aleks Kolarov on the books. Kolarov could well be heading for the City exit when the protracted pursuit of Benjamin Mendy ends.

Mendy, who Monaco value at £50m, was due for a medical earlier in the week but the clubs are still haggling over a fee.

Kyle Walker joined City from Tottenham earlier this month in a deal worth up to £54million

City also hope to sign Benjamin Mendy (right) from Monaco but have had a bid turned down

Real Madrid's Danilo, seen as a utility man by Guardiola, could become a City player as early as this weekend.

Mourinho hoped for four new faces this summer and has was delivered his two top targets in Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku.

The Portuguese needs a sitting central midfielder, with Nemanja Matic top of the list, but did admit that they are prepared to end interest in one of the two other targets.

City's transfer activity is undoubtedly more convoluted but Mourinho will be disappointed if he doesn't end up with four having given Ed Woodward his list earlier this year.

Romelu Lukaku joined United earlier this month in deal which could rise to £90m from Everton

Chelsea's Nemanja Matic is wanted by the Red Devils too - but they may end their pursuit

What have the managers had to say?

Press conferences have been a variation on a theme over the last few days, with incomings and outgoings at both clubs still very much up in the air.

Mourinho, however, did address other problems such as fixture congestion in a pre-emptive strike, while also claiming he's ready to remain United boss for the foreseeable in an interview with ESPN.

'I am ready for the next 15, I would say. Here? Yes, why not? I have to admit that it is very difficult because of the pressure around our jobs, everybody putting pressure on managers and things that people say - that we have to win -but in reality only one can win and every year it is getting more difficult.'

United manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he's ready to remain at the club for a long time

Guardiola, who effectively confirmed interest in Alexis Sanchez for the first time, took a pot shot at UEFA over the window.

'Unfortunately the market finishes on August 31st. I think that's a huge mistake from UEFA,' he said.

'I think the market should finish when we start the season, it's too long, too large. We are playing here with guys who maybe will not continue, or with players who are coming but are not here.

'Hopefully in the future UEFA can think about that and the deadline will be the day we start the competition.'

City boss Pep Guardiola believes UEFA should move the dates of the summer transfer window

What about their rivalry?

All the talk last year was of Jose vs Pep but their first season in the same city passed without incident. Both have always been keen to play down a rivalry to ignite in Spain and relations have thawed.

'It was not a surprise for me, it is a surprise for the people that keep selling the rivalry,' Mourinho said.

'We were together for three years [at Barcelona], we shared a dressing room for three years, for three years we were laughing and smiling with victories and crying with defeats.

'When Pep came to England I was absolutely sure that the type of competition we have in England I was sure it was not about United and City, Mourinho and Pep, I'm sorry if we disappointed.'

Guardiola and Mourinho's relationship last season proved to be a damp squib

Can we glean anything tactically?

Probably not, although it was interesting to note that Ilkay Gundogan was the midfielder breaking into the box during training drills at the NRG. The German is on his way back and Guardiola appears ready to use him as one to push on and score more goals rather than hold the fort.

Mourinho will continue to tinker with his systems over the next few weeks and maintained that three at the back was not permanent. But they have been working on it in training at UCLA and it is intriguing there has not been huge importance placed on signing a left back this summer. 

Ilkay Gundogan could be used in a role further forward under Guardiola this coming campaign