Tijjani Reijnders' first season at the Etihad was decent without ever quite catching fire. Seven goals and seven assists in 47 appearances, often in uneven minutes, made him useful rather than indispensable. Now, with the transfer window still open, Juventus are testing City's resolve.

Reports from Italy, via TuttoSport, suggest the Serie A side are putting together a fresh approach for the Dutchman: an initial paid loan with an option to buy for around £30m. Reijnders only arrived last summer, when City paid AC Milan £46m and handed him a five-year deal. A potential exit at that price would represent a significant loss on the original outlay.

Juventus, though, have their own constraints. The Italian side reportedly need to shift a few squad players before they can bring anyone else in. Whether that happens before the deadline remains to be seen.

"Juventus haven't given up and are devising a new plan to make the Reijnders move easier," TuttoSport report.

The picture at City is complicated by the presence of Elliot Anderson. The England midfielder's arrival has reignited questions over Reijnders' role, and Anderson's absence from the pre-season squad — he featured for England in the summer tournament — has done little to settle the noise.

Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, is still shopping. The Italian is planning to add Lille youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi to his squad, another body for the middle of the park.

Reijnders did start the friendly against Inter Milan, lining up alongside Mateo Kovacic in a double pivot. That suggests he remains in the manager's thinking, at least for now.

But with Bernardo Silva gone and Rodri's future unresolved, letting Reijnders leave would leave City thinner in midfield than Maresca might like. The argument for keeping him is straightforward: experienced depth is hard to replace in August. The argument for selling is equally simple — if Juventus are willing to pay, City recoup a chunk of the fee and clear a path for younger options.

Whether Reijnders stays or goes may end up telling us more about Rodri than about Reijnders himself.

Oliver Glasner has finally opened up on the chain of events that led Elliot Anderson to swap the City Ground for the Etihad, and his admission is as candid as it gets.

The Nottingham Forest boss confirmed that Anderson’s departure was effectively a done deal before Glasner even took charge, revealing that there was never any intention to persuade the midfielder to stay.

“No, no, it was decided that he will leave, and I think that’s what we have to accept, and we are not at the end of the food chain in football.”

Anderson’s move to Manchester City was confirmed on the back of England’s third-place finish at the 2026 World Cup, with the 23-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract. City reportedly parted with £116m to secure his services, making him the club’s most expensive signing ever and surpassing the £100m shelled out for Jack Grealish back in 2021.

It is a hefty sum for a player who only arrived in the East Midlands two years ago, following a lengthy spell at Newcastle. Yet despite the brief stay, Anderson made himself a key figure at the City Ground, and his sale has generated unexpected profit for Forest.

Glasner was keen to stress that Forest were not under any financial pressure to sell, insisting the decision was made for reasons beyond money. Still, the windfall will come in handy, with the funds set to be reinvested across several areas of the squad.

For City, Anderson’s arrival points towards a direct replacement for Bernardo Silva, who departed at the end of last season. The England international has yet to link up with his new teammates in pre-season, with World Cup participants not expected back until a few days before the Community Shield.

When he does arrive, the expectation is that he will slot in alongside Rodri, assuming the Spaniard remains at the Etihad for another campaign. The recent friendly against Inter Milan offered a glimpse of a two-man pivot, hinting at how Maresca might deploy his new signing.

Enzo Maresca was in no mood to tip his hand when the subject of Manchester City's goalkeeping situation came up. With James Trafford reportedly closing in on a £40m-plus move to Leeds, the natural question is who fills the void. The City boss, however, offered little in the way of clarity.

Pressed on the matter, Maresca gave nothing away. It is the kind of non-answer that tends to fuel rather than settle speculation, and with pre-season still ticking along, the silence speaks volumes.

The maths is straightforward enough. Trafford's expected departure would hand the Blues a hefty windfall for a player who has spent time away from the first-team picture. What that means for recruitment between the sticks remains, for now, anyone's guess.

Maresca's reluctance to engage will not dampen the chatter. Supporters are left to read between the lines, and the transfer window is far from shut.

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Two pieces of goalkeeper business that have been rumbling along in the background of City's east Asia tour remain unresolved, with Enzo Maresca offering little in the way of fresh information ahead of Wednesday's friendly against K-League All Stars in Seoul.

Marseille's Geronimo Rulli is earmarked for the Etihad, while James Trafford's proposed switch to Leeds United continues to hover in the background. Both are understood to be deep into the process, but neither has crossed the finish line.

"There are no updates yet. James is still a Man City player and Rulli is still a Marseille player. So we're going to wait in the next days."

The hold-up, as far as anyone can tell, is not a matter of disagreement. Rulli has reportedly already agreed personal terms on a two-year contract, leaving the finer points of his departure from the French club as the sticking point.

Trafford's exit would open the door

Trafford, 23, has been clear about wanting regular first-team football, and Leeds have long been understood to be his destination. Both clubs are said to have agreed terms. The England man, fresh from the World Cup in North America, has been granted extra time off to rest and recover rather than joining the pre-season squad on tour.

His departure would leave a gap in City's goalkeeping ranks behind Gianluigi Donnarumma, which is precisely where Rulli fits. At 33, the Argentine brings experience from multiple top European leagues — a known quantity rather than a developmental project, which is what the situation calls for.

There is an added layer of urgency on the outgoing side. Academy product Oliver Whatmuff has already been allowed to head to Stockport County earlier than planned after a personnel crisis between the sticks at the League One club, making a swift resolution of the Trafford situation all the more pressing.

August deadline in sight

The Premier League campaign begins on 23 August against Bournemouth, and both pieces of business are expected to be wrapped up well before the full complement of World Cup returnees reports for pre-season. For now, though, patience remains the operative word.

Ryan McAidoo's pre-season tour has hit a small bump. The 18-year-old will sit out Wednesday's friendly against the K-League All Stars in Seoul after picking up a shoulder problem.

City's head coach was quick to play down the severity. "In the last game, Ryan McAidoo was quite good," said Maresca. "Unfortunately, McAidoo will be out for tomorrow's game because he had a small problem in his shoulder, but nothing important."

The teenager impressed during the 1-1 draw with Inter Milan in Hong Kong last weekend, a cameo that prompted Maresca to make his feelings clear to director of football Hugo Viana. The message was simple: this is a player worth keeping around.

The injury is not expected to derail that momentum. McAidoo should return to full training shortly and is likely to feature again before the squad heads off for the final leg of their pre-season schedule.

With McAidoo unavailable, the wide areas will be shared out. Savinho is expected to carry extra responsibility against the All Stars, a timely chance for the Brazilian given the ongoing speculation over his future at the Etihad. Tottenham, as ever, continue to be linked.

Antoine Semenyo should also see plenty of the ball. The Ghana international caught the eye in Hong Kong and has been talking up the tactical work he is doing under Maresca ahead of the new campaign.

Maresca has made no secret of his desire to add another wide player before the window shuts, with the Premier League season kicking off on 23 August. For now, though, the focus is on Seoul — and on making sure McAidoo's minor setback stays exactly that.

Manchester City's interest in Pedro Neto is being driven from the top, with Enzo Maresca the man believed to be pulling the strings. The City boss knows the Chelsea winger intimately from their time together at Stamford Bridge, and that familiarity appears to be shaping the club's thinking this summer.

According to former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, speaking to Football Insider, there is a "real possibility" the 26-year-old ends up at the Etihad, with a "big-money" deal on the cards. Brown's track record on transfer matters lends his words some weight, even if he is no longer working in the game.

Neto has been a key figure for Chelsea since arriving from Wolves back in 2024, but his campaign last season was a mixed bag. Ten goals and ten assists in 52 appearances across all competitions is hardly a poor return, yet a string of inconsistent displays raised questions about his reliability at the highest level. Portuguese media were particularly scathing about his World Cup performances, with his half-time withdrawal against Uzbekistan singled out for criticism back in June.

Xabi Alonso, now in charge at Chelsea, is said to view Neto as part of his plans for the new season. But with a significant overhaul of the squad already underway, the club have stopped short of ruling out exits. If Neto does depart, Chelsea would likely move for a replacement, though City are confident that will not stand in the way of their pursuit.

There is a "real possibility" Neto could make the move to Man City, with a "big-money" deal on the cards.

Brown's earlier comments from last season add another layer to the story. Back then, he told Football Insider that Chelsea hoped to keep hold of Neto despite interest from Barcelona, with Maresca determined not to lose him. Now the same manager is reportedly keen to bring him to Manchester, which rather sums up the fluid nature of these situations.

Chelsea's squad depth is worth noting here. With Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers, Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Geovany Quenda all competing for wide berths, Neto is far from indispensable. That depth could work in City's favour if they decide to push ahead with a formal offer.

Whether this materialises into an actual bid remains to be seen, but the pieces are in place for a significant transfer saga before the window closes.

Wednesday's clash with a K-League All Stars XI at the Seoul World Cup Stadium marks uncharted territory for Manchester City. It is the first meeting between the Blues and the South Korean select side, and the first chance for Enzo Maresca's side to register a victory since the Italian's reign began.

The opener in Hong Kong ended all square, a 1-1 draw with Inter Milan that had its moments but ultimately slipped away on penalties. Divin Mubama's simple tap-in after Antoine Semenyo's mazy run had given City a 14th-minute lead, only for Benjamin Pavard to level after a defensive mix-up. The shootout proved costly, with Rayan Ait Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Nico González all missing from the spot. Claudio Echeverri's cheeky panenka was the sole successful conversion as Inter took the Asahi Super Dry Trophy with a 1-3 win on penalties.

There is little time for reflection. The squad has been bolstered by the arrival of Matheus Nunes, Rúben Dias, and Omar Marmoush on Saturday, all of whom should be available for selection. Their presence should add some steel to a side that, while dominant in possession against Inter — averaging 64% — lacked a cutting edge at times.

Vitor Reis led the shot count with four efforts, while Khusanov, despite his penalty miss, was the most prolific passer with 84 completed. Mubama, meanwhile, sits as the tour's top scorer with his single goal, a modest tally that speaks to the team's ongoing search for rhythm.

The All Stars' Pedigree

The K-League All Stars are no strangers to testing themselves against European opposition. Since 1991, the fixture has been a celebration of South Korean football, pitting the league's standout performers against the likes of Barcelona, Juventus, Tottenham, Atlético Madrid, and Newcastle United. Last year, they beat the Magpies 1-0. Their record against foreign European clubs stands at two wins, three defeats, and a draw.

The hosts' squad features a blend of local talent and overseas imports, including the experienced Kim Young-gwon and Brazilian forward Cesinha, among a list of 22 players.

Kick-off is at 12:00 BST on Wednesday morning, with coverage in the UK on City+. Maresca is scheduled to face the media on Tuesday from 12:30 BST, where he may offer further insight into his plans for the fixture. For now, the focus is simple: get the first win of the new era on the board.

Manchester City have been busy. Four new faces have already arrived at the Etihad this summer — Elliot Anderson, Mathys Detourbet, Jeremy Monga and Pierce Charles — and the club show no signs of slowing down.

The latest developments point to a midfield reshuffle and a fresh option between the sticks, with two deals moving in tandem.

Bouaddi Agreement Reached, But Sticking Point Remains

Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Lille and Morocco midfielder, has emerged as City's principal candidate to fill the void left by Rodri. The Blues have agreed a long-term arrangement with the player, according to TEAMtalk, with a move to Manchester in the pipeline.

But there is a catch. Lille want to keep the France Under-21 international on loan for the rest of the season as part of any deal, a proposal City have so far resisted. The Blues want Bouaddi in Enzo Maresca's squad immediately, not in 12 months' time.

The situation is complicated by Rodri's own future. The Ballon d'Or winner has entered the final year of his contract and is reportedly keen on a move to Real Madrid. City risk losing their midfield anchor this summer, which would make Bouaddi's arrival all the more pressing.

Rulli Bid Submitted as Trafford Heads for Exit

Meanwhile, City have made their first official bid for Geronimo Rulli. Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday morning that the club had sent an offer to Olympique Marseille for the Argentine goalkeeper.

Rulli has been identified as the preferred replacement for James Trafford, who is closing in on a move to Leeds United. Romano had previously stated City wanted Rulli as their new backup keeper, with the player keen on the switch and Marseille aware of the interest. Negotiations between the clubs are now underway.

It is a busy window at the Etihad, and the picture is becoming clearer — but the Bouaddi situation still needs resolving before City can finalise their plans.

Manchester City and Lille are telling two very different stories about the future of Ayyoub Bouaddi, leaving supporters to pick through the scraps for clarity.

According to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, City have taken “a significant step” towards signing the 18-year-old, with personal terms already agreed between the parties.

And yet, across the Channel, Lille's public positioning suggests matters are far from settled. The two clubs' accounts of proceedings are so far apart that it is difficult to know which version reflects reality.

What is clear is that City have identified a young midfielder they rate highly, and they have made their move. Whether that move lands before the window closes is another question entirely.

All of this, of course, is playing out with Real Madrid's pursuit of Rodri continuing to run in parallel. The noise around the Etihad's midfield shows no sign of quietening.

With under a year left on his contract, Rodri's future at Manchester City is far from certain. Real Madrid are pushing hard to bring the Spanish midfielder back to the capital, and the clock is ticking.

Sky Sports have reported that a bid in the region of £50million is expected but is yet to materialise. Forbes, however, claim that City have set their selling price for the 30-year-old at £75million. That gap is significant, and it leaves the Blues in a tricky spot.

Rodri has just turned 30, and his contract expires in June 2027. If City don't sell now, they risk losing him for nothing in a year's time. But selling a player of his calibre is not a decision to be taken lightly, especially given what he has meant to this side.

Injury Woes and a Reduced Role

The 2025/26 campaign was a difficult one for Rodri on a personal level. After returning from a lengthy lay-off with a ruptured ACL, he suffered several injuries last season. Since his comeback in the penultimate league game of the 2024/25 season, he has been sidelined for 134 days, missing 27 games combined for club and country.

His league appearances tell the story: just 21 in the Premier League, averaging 72 minutes per game. That is the lowest number of league appearances he has recorded over a season, barring the campaign he ruptured his ACL, since his breakout season at Villarreal a decade ago.

To add to the concerns, Rodri has also undergone back surgery since Spain's World Cup final victory, which will likely see him miss City's opening fixture against Bournemouth.

The Madrid Factor

Real Madrid's interest is not new. Rodri openly courted them last season, saying in an interview whilst on international duty with Spain: 'I'd like to return, yes, obviously. For me, LaLiga is where I started. I still follow it, it's true not as much as before, but I still follow it.'

Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, came under fire during the World Cup due to Spain having no representatives from the country's most successful team. The club's recent transfer strategy has been to snap up top talent on frees, with Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate all arriving without a fee in the past few seasons. They clearly see an opportunity here.

According to Forbes, Madrid don't want to pay over £50million for Rodri. That is well below City's valuation, and it is hard to see the Blues budging easily.

Looking Ahead

If City do decide to cash in, they would be miraculously recording a profit on a player they signed as a 23-year-old for £62.8 million. That is not a bad return, even if it feels like selling the family silver.

There are options out there. Elliot Anderson, an impressive midfielder who shone for Nottingham Forest last season and England over the summer, is one name being mentioned. Per 90 minutes of league football last season, he made more tackles, interceptions, blocks, dribbles and won more duels than Rodri, though he doesn't match him in areas such as passing and aerial prowess.

Ayyoub Bouaddi is another. The incredibly talented holding player started five of Morocco's six World Cup matches after a fantastic breakout season for Lille, and rumours spreading across social media claim his transfer to Manchester will likely cost City over £85million.

The coming weeks will be telling. Whether City hold firm on their £75million valuation or accept something closer to Madrid's offer, one thing is certain: this is a decision that will shape the midfield for years to come.

The two men shaping the public debate over Rodri's future at Manchester City are offering sharply different timelines for his departure.

Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, now running a football consultancy that advises elite clubs, insists the midfielder will not leave the Etihad before January at the very earliest. Speaking on Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, he suggested the saga will drag on beyond the summer window, which closes on 3 September.

"I don't think he's going to leave City until at least the winter at the very earliest, and I think he may well stay with City for the rest of the season," Wyness said.

His reasoning centres on Rodri's recovery from back surgery. "We've got to see his rehab and how he comes out of this back surgery. There are things that have got to be assessed in terms of that," he added.

Wyness, who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009, believes City will hold firm and make life difficult for Real Madrid, who have been extensively linked with the 30-year-old. He does not think a deal can be done quickly enough for this summer.

City appear increasingly likely to lose Rodri when his contract expires in June 2027, with little hope of an extension being agreed.

That view sits in direct contrast to Stefan Borson, a former City financial advisor. Borson has told Football Insider he expects Rodri to leave before the start of the season, and believes the club are content to let him go for £64million (€75m) rather than hold out for more.

Borson is adamant Rodri is worth at least £85m even given his contract situation, but is in no doubt City won't get that in today's market. He feels the writing is on the wall and an exit could happen sooner rather than later.

Two men who know the club's finances well, then, are reading the same situation in opposite ways. One sees him gone before the season kicks off; the other thinks he will still be a City player come Christmas. Either way, the clock is ticking on a decision that could shape City's midfield for years.

Mateo Kovacic has ended speculation over his future by confirming he will remain at Manchester City this summer. The midfielder's decision follows direct conversations with new boss Enzo Maresca and the club's hierarchy, with the 32-year-old insisting he never sensed any doubt about his place in the squad.

Speaking to Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News, Kovacic was candid about the reassurance those talks provided. "I didn't feel question marks from them," he said. "I spoke with them, they count on me, which was important to hear from them."

"And now for the players it's always on you to show your best version, because if you're playing good, the manager will put you first."

The former Chelsea man arrived at the Etihad in the summer of 2023 and has since collected a Premier League title, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup across three seasons. His contract runs until 2027, and he is now confirmed as part of the squad for the 2026-27 campaign.

At 32, with a Champions League, Premier League and two domestic cups already in the cabinet, Kovacic might have been forgiven for eyeing a fresh challenge. Instead, he appears settled, and the message from Maresca is clear: form decides selection, not reputation.

Ayyoub Bouaddi's future has been one of the quieter subplots of City's summer, but Lille president Olivier Létang has now publicly poured cold water on the idea of a swift departure. The 18-year-old midfielder, identified by City's director of football Hugo Viana as a long-term target, is likely to remain in France, according to Létang.

City's interest has been anything but casual. CEO Ferran Soriano met Létang in person back in June to talk through the mechanics of a deal, and a fee in the region of £67m to £84m had been mooted. A loan-back arrangement for the 2026-27 season was taking shape as a compromise both sides could live with.

That all sounds like a transfer edging towards completion. Létang's latest remarks suggest otherwise.

"I told you last time I thought Ayyoub was going to stay, and I still stand by that," he said. "The idea remains the same: to have a competitive team."

The Lille chief was explicit about the conditions under which a sale could happen. "If clubs come in at the end of the transfer window for a particular position and we're not in a position to replace, we won't go ahead with the deal."

There is, though, a sense that this is not simply a club digging in for its own sake. Létang insists Bouaddi himself is in no rush to move. "We're in regular contact with Ayyoub; he's not in a hurry to leave, he's very keen to stay here too."

For an 18-year-old, the appeal of staying is obvious. "When you're 18 and at a club like LOSC, opportunity to play a significant number of matches including in the Champions League you naturally ask yourself, why leave now?"

City's pursuit of Bouaddi comes in the wake of a busy summer that saw the club break its transfer record with the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. That outlay may have raised expectations of further spending, but Lille's stance suggests this particular deal could stall unless the picture changes late in the window.

Létang, for his part, left the door ajar without committing to anything. "I'll let him speak for himself when the time is right."

The summer has brought change at the Etihad, with Enzo Maresca taking over from Pep Guardiola. For most of the squad, that means adapting to new ideas and new demands. For Rico Lewis, it means something else entirely: a reunion with a coach who already knows exactly what he is about.

The pair go back a few years. Lewis broke into the first team during the treble-winning campaign of 2022-23, the same season Maresca was serving as Guardiola's assistant. It was a brief overlap, but a meaningful one.

"When he was with us in the Treble season, most of the time after sessions he would take me do individual sessions which I really appreciated."

That connection matters now. Maresca, like Guardiola before him, knows the strengths and weaknesses of Lewis' game intimately. The difference is that Maresca isn't Guardiola, and the Italian may have a different take altogether on what the young defender offers.

Versatility as a double-edged sword

Lewis' flexibility has always been his calling card. In the first friendly of pre-season against Inter Milan, he started at right-back before shifting into midfield for the second half. The switch suited him — he looked considerably more comfortable in the middle of the park.

That adaptability, though, may have cost him under the previous regime. Being useful in two roles can sometimes mean being essential in neither, and last season Lewis found himself sliding down the pecking order at City.

Now there is a chance to reset. The new manager has yet to confirm where Lewis fits into his plans, and the player himself admits the topic hasn't come up in conversation.

"We've not spoken about the position I'll play yet but I played full-back and midfield the other day [against Inter], so that gives me an idea of what he's thinking."

Ready for whatever comes

Lewis isn't fussy about the details. What matters to him is being on the pitch.

"I will speak to him but I just want to play. That's the main thing for me, I just want to be playing football and helping the team."

His ability to operate in two positions could prove valuable to a manager building his own identity. Whether that means more minutes remains to be seen, but the relationship is there, the trust is there, and the versatility is there.

Sometimes a fresh start is all a player needs.

There was a moment in City's first pre-season outing against Inter Milan when the shape of the new season briefly came into focus. It arrived at half-time, with the Blues trailing a midfield battle against the Serie A champions, and Enzo Maresca turned to his bench.

Nico Gonzalez came on. Rico Lewis dropped back into midfield. And the difference, by any reasonable reading, was night and day.

For a player who spent much of last season watching from the sidelines, it was a small but significant statement of intent.

Learning the Maresca way

Speaking to the club's official website, the Spaniard made clear that the squad is still adjusting to life under the new manager. He described the process as one that will take time to become fully embedded, and was honest about the scale of the task.

"We won't know everything that we could learn during the year before the first week of the season. But even when one year has passed, we will always keep learning."

There is, he acknowledged, an element of timing to the transition. Some players will only arrive in the same week as the Community Shield, which makes the preparation uneven. But for those who have been at the club since day one of pre-season, the chance to be ready for that early test is greater.

Continuity with Pep, ambition with Enzo

Asked about the differences between Maresca and his predecessor, Gonzalez was careful to point out the similarities as much as the changes. The core principles, he suggested, remain intact.

"I've been enjoying our sessions with Enzo. Obviously there are differences to last year with Pep but there are a lot of similarities in the way we are playing. It's the same whole idea of high pressure and getting the ball as quick as possible and doing a lot of passes."

That continuity matters. After years of sustained success, the demand is to maintain the same level and the same ambition, and Gonzalez believes those are exactly the ideas Maresca is bringing to the role.

From bit-part to vital

Since arriving from Porto in the January 2025 window, Gonzalez has served something of an apprenticeship. There were moments when he looked vital to the side, and other occasions when he barely got on the pitch. Rodri stood in his way, and Guardiola often preferred other options in midfield.

Now, with a fresh slate under a new manager, the path looks clearer. The Spaniard can draw his own route from here, and the early signs are encouraging. He is more than good enough to be a consistent contributor, and he began that process against Inter.

Whatever happens with Rodri's future, and whoever else City might sign in midfield, the role Gonzalez plays looks increasingly important. Maresca's system appears to suit him, and the fact that he is enjoying the learning process is a good sign for what lies ahead.

If that enthusiasm translates onto the pitch, the bit-part days could finally be behind him.

Enzo Maresca's preparations for the new campaign continued apace on Monday, with the City boss still weighing up his options at the back. The centre-back berth is proving one of the more intriguing selection calls of the summer.

The Blues' defensive options have presented the manager with something of a pleasant headache. Quite how he resolves it, though, remains an open question.

Rodri update

Elsewhere, the latest bulletin on Rodri's fitness offered some reassurance. The Spaniard's recovery from injury continues to follow the expected path, with the midfielder reportedly making solid progress in his rehabilitation.

It is the kind of news City fans will want to hear, even if the club has been characteristically guarded about putting a firm timescale on his return.

Transfer chatter

The usual transfer noise accompanied the day's proceedings, with developments behind the scenes keeping the rumour mill ticking over. Nothing earth-shattering broke the surface, but the background hum of activity persists.

For Maresca, the focus remains on the work in front of him. The squad is being shaped, decisions are being made, and the season edges closer with each passing day.

City's pursuit of Ayyoub Bouaddi has been running for weeks, and the shape of the deal is becoming familiar. Personal terms are widely reported as agreed. The player, presumably, is on board. And yet the move sits exactly where it has sat for some time: stuck on the fee.

Lille's president has publicly denied something along the way — the details of that denial are murky, but it has not shifted the needle. The gap between what Lille want and what City are prepared to pay has shown no sign of closing, and there is no indication either side is about to blink.

This is a transfer tracker, so here is the state of play as it stands: one box ticked, another not, and a public denial thrown in for good measure. It is the kind of standoff that tends to resolve itself with patience, or with one party deciding the whole thing is more trouble than it is worth.

Neither side has got there yet.

Enzo Maresca's summer shopping list appears to have a distinctly blue tint to it, with Pedro Neto the latest name linked with a move to the Etihad. Reports suggest City are preparing a bid for the £70million-rated winger, who previously played under Maresca at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese international has emerged as a target as Maresca looks to reshape his squad, with the Italian keen to bring in players familiar with his methods. City have already been linked with Chelsea duo Enzo Fernandez and Malo Gusto, and Neto now looks set to join that list.

According to The Sun, City are lining up a shock move for the 26-year-old, who is also a target for AC Milan. The Rossoneri have made Neto their primary option to replace Rafael Leao, but City could blow them out of the water with a substantial offer.

Maresca sees Neto as an ideal fit for the system he wants to implement, and club officials are exploring a potential deal. However, Chelsea have placed a £70m price tag on the winger and are under no pressure to sell, viewing him as a key member of their squad. That said, they accept that a significant bid could change their stance, particularly given the £117m they spent to bring Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.

Neto's agent, Jorge Mendes, has offered his client to Al-Hilal, but the player himself is keen to remain in European football at a top club, which could play into City's hands.

Maresca left Chelsea on New Year's Day following a turbulent end to 2025, during which he was accused of holding talks with both City and Juventus. He previously served as assistant manager at the Etihad and made no secret of his desire to succeed Pep Guardiola, a goal he achieved on June 29 when he signed a three-year contract with City.

That appointment cost City £17million in compensation, with Maresca also agreeing a personal settlement with Chelsea and apologising for the manner of his departure.

Should the Neto deal materialise, it would add another chapter to what is already shaping up to be a busy summer of transfer activity at the Etihad, with several players reportedly at risk of being offloaded as Maresca puts his stamp on the squad.

There is a theory floating around that the coming weeks will be calm on the Rodri front. Keith Wyness, the former Everton chief executive who now advises elite clubs through his consultancy, isn't so sure. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he has suggested that City might actually let the midfielder agree terms with a new club before the 2026-27 season is out — even if the move itself doesn't happen for a while.

Wyness, who spent five years in the Goodison Park hot seat between 2004 and 2009, believes the Blues still want Rodri for the campaign ahead. But the picture is complicated. The 30-year-old has just had back surgery, and that, in Wyness's view, is a genuine problem.

"Back surgery is never an easy thing; it's a very dangerous thing," he said. "There is one complication, he's just undergone back surgery as well, and that's another little complication that might just delay things, as they want to see how he comes out of that."

The recovery is expected to be short, but it still adds an unwelcome variable to an already tangled saga. Clubs circling — and there are a few, with Real Madrid heavily linked and Barcelona sniffing around — will want to see Rodri return to something like his best before committing serious money.

That hasn't stopped the speculation from building. Rodri was excellent for Spain this summer, winning the Golden Ball as they lifted the World Cup in North America. His stock, frankly, has rarely been higher. But the contract situation at the Etihad is the elephant in the room: his deal runs out in June 2027, which means next summer is the last real chance to cash in.

Wyness expects the two sides to play a patient game.

"City side are actually playing pretty hard in terms of negotiation," he said. "They may even agree the perimeter of a transaction, but he could stay at City for this next season. So I don't really see it happening that quickly this summer."

It's a view that chimes with what Stefan Borson, a former financial advisor to the club, has told the same outlet. Borson reckons City are "relaxed" about the whole affair. Enzo Maresca and company are happy to keep their man for another year, even if that means losing him on a free transfer down the line. If Real Madrid push things along, the club would apparently accept a so-called "mediocre fee" rather than dig in.

None of this is a surprise. Rodri has been central to City's recent success, and even last term, with injuries biting, he still managed 21 Premier League appearances. The hope is that the back problem proves a minor blip rather than the start of a trend.

For now, the likeliest outcome is that Rodri stays put this summer, the surgery heals, and the real drama gets parked until next year. The question is whether that counts as good news or just a delay.

Jack Grealish's next move could take him to Spain. Atlético Madrid have emerged as a surprise destination for the winger, with Manchester City increasingly likely to sanction his departure this summer.

The 30-year-old spent last season on loan at Everton, where a foot injury interrupted an otherwise encouraging spell. He now needs a permanent home, and the list of interested parties is growing.

According to The Sun, Diego Simeone is considering a move because he admires Grealish's attitude and believes his style of play could translate well to Spanish football. The Atlético coach values hard work, ball retention and tactical discipline, all of which Grealish can offer. His ability to slow matches down, draw fouls and protect possession would add a different dimension to a side that already has several wide options.

Atleti have been busy this window, adding technical quality including South Korean international Kang-in Lee. Another experienced attacker would increase their depth further, though Grealish would not be guaranteed a starting spot given the competition across attacking areas.

What Atlético can offer is Champions League football and a chance to rebuild his reputation away from the intense English spotlight. Simeone may also appreciate the England international's willingness to track runners and win fouls in dangerous areas.

There are, however, alternatives. Everton are exploring another move after his productive loan spell, while Aston Villa are considering an emotional reunion with their former captain. Familiarity and a clearer starting role could appeal more if Grealish prioritises regular Premier League football over a rotational position in Madrid.

Interest from Saudi Arabia and MLS gives City additional options and could drive up the financial package. For Atlético, the move should only proceed if City accept a modest fee or a loan containing a realistic purchase option.

Grealish remains technically gifted, but his age, wages and recent injury record make a major investment risky. City look ready to let him go; the question is where he lands.

After a penalty shootout defeat to Inter Milan that left a sour taste, City return to action on Wednesday against a K League All Stars XI. It's the second of three preseason fixtures in Asia, and for Enzo Maresca it's a chance to see his squad take a step forward.

The Blues lost their opening game of the tour on penalties, missing their first three spot-kicks. The less said about that, the better. What matters now is the response, and with several World Cup stars finally back in the fold, there's a different feel to this one.

Fresh Faces and Returning Stars

Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes and Omar Marmoush have all linked up with the squad and are expected to start. Their presence should give Maresca a clearer picture of his strongest XI, even at this early stage of the summer.

There will also be a first taste of the tour for academy trio Floyd Samba, Jaden Heskey and Matty Henderson-Hall. Jeremy Monga, signed from Leicester City over the summer, could also feature.

Ryan McAidoo impressed off the bench in the Inter game, while Antoine Semenyo's work down the left set up City's opener. Both will hope to build on those moments.

Likely Lineup

Predicted City XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Matty Henderson-Hall; Phil Foden, Tijjani Reijnders, Nico Gonzalez; Jeremy Monga, Antoine Semenyo, Omar Marmoush.

Kick-off is at 12:00pm BST (07:00 ET, 04:00 PT). After this one, City wrap up their Asia tour against Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

When the 2026/27 Premier League season kicks off, three of the division's most-backed sides will do so under new management. City, Liverpool and Chelsea all turned to fresh hands over the summer, yet only one of those appointments comes with the kind of inside knowledge that tends to smooth a transition.

Enzo Maresca is not a stranger to the corridors of the CFA. He has been at the club twice before — first as Elite Development Squad manager, where he guided the under-23s to the PL2 title in 2021, and later as part of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff during the Treble-winning campaign. The players know him. By all accounts, they like him. That matters.

The move for Maresca was planned well in advance, and the City hierarchy have no doubt they have employed the right man to continue the club's title-winning spree. Whether that spree resumes this season is another question entirely.

The Arsenal Question

Reigning champions Arsenal sit atop most sportsbooks' lists, and it is easy to see why. Their starting XI is among the best in Europe. But the path to last season's crown was not exactly a procession. It took three seasons of serious challenging before they finally won their first title since 2004, and even then they only crept over the line after City dropped points away at Everton.

City, for their part, were nowhere near their best last season and still carried a genuine title chance into the final weeks. That same undercooked side still collected the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. The thought of what a fully functioning version might do is enough to keep the summer optimism bubbling.

Lessons From Liverpool

Liverpool's recent trajectory offers a cautionary tale for anyone assuming the champions will simply carry on. After winning the title in 2020 under Jurgen Klopp, they finished 17 points off the pace the following season. Under Arne Slot they won again in 2025, only to end the next campaign 25 points adrift.

Andoni Iraola now takes over a side that has repeatedly discovered how hard it is to defend a crown. Chelsea, with Xabi Alonso in charge, are in a similar state of transition. Both clubs are among the favourites, but both are effectively starting over.

And then there is United, also among the favourites. It is a sentence that requires a steady hand to type without smirking.

Vinicius Jr and the Transfer Chatter

There is also the small matter of the Vinicius Jr talk swirling around Arsenal. The Brazilian is frequently linked with moves elsewhere — a couple of seasons ago it was City. Whether he ends up in north London remains to be seen, but one superstar does not automatically solve the depth issues that can decide a 38-game season.

City have a settled squad, a manager who knows the club inside out, and a rival that needed everything to go right to win one title. The bookmakers might have Arsenal ahead, but the evidence points somewhere else.

If anyone needed a reason for Manchester City's summer midfield business, Saturday's friendly against Inter Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium provided one inside the opening half-hour. The Blues drew 1-1 and lost on penalties, but the scoreline was almost incidental. What mattered was the shape Enzo Maresca picked and how it creaked under pressure.

Maresca started Tijjani Reijnders, Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden in midfield. Foden pushed high and joined the four-man press, while Reijnders and Kovacic were asked to sit in front of the backline. It didn't quite work. Inter found ways through the press and, on several occasions, simply bypassed the midfield pair altogether.

That is not a slight on either player. Reijnders is at his best driving forward, and Kovacic is a number eight who thrives with a Rodri-type figure behind him. Asking them to screen the defence is asking them to play a role that doesn't fit. The result was a midfield that looked open, stretched and short of the control City usually demand.

The contrast after the break was telling. Maresca brought on Nico Gonzalez at halftime and pushed Rico Lewis up from right-back into midfield. Inter made a raft of changes of their own, so direct comparisons are messy, but the improvement was impossible to miss. Gonzalez sat in his familiar holding role, Lewis gave him support, Rayan Ait-Nouri inverted from left-back and Vitor Reis stepped into midfield at times. City suddenly had the control they'd been missing.

A rebuild still in progress

This is why the summer's work isn't done. Elliot Anderson has arrived from Nottingham Forest and looks set to be a prominent figure for Maresca. The links to Ayyoub Bouaddi make sense too — he could fill the same role. You could picture Anderson and Rodri playing the parts Reijnders and Kovacic were handed on Saturday, assuming Rodri stays.

Friendlies are the perfect laboratory for experiments like this. It's better to find out now, before the season starts, that a midfield pairing lacks the defensive solidity required. The opening 45 minutes in Hong Kong offered that lesson. The second half showed what the answer might look like.

Nico Gonzalez looks like he could be important for Maresca. Anderson will be crucial for the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. And if Rodri remains, City have the makings of a midfield that can control games again. The first half against Inter was a reminder of why that matters.

Pre-season friendlies rarely tell you much. They are usually about fitness, about minutes in legs, about avoiding the sort of injury that derails a campaign before it has properly begun. Every so often, though, a player uses one to make a point.

Vitor Reis did exactly that in the second half of City's 1-1 draw with Inter Milan on Saturday.

The Brazilian centre-back was one of five players introduced by Enzo Maresca at the interval, and the shuffle that followed was significant. With Max Alleyne also coming on, Abdukodir Khusanov shifted across to right-back, while Rayan Ait-Nouri took up the left-back berth. Reis, in the middle of it all, was handed the responsibility of anchoring a reworked defence.

He responded with a display that was quietly authoritative. In his 45 minutes on the pitch, Reis completed 44 of his 46 passes, a return that underpinned City's dominance of the second period. But there was more to his game than simply recycling possession. Nine of those passes went into the final third, evidence of a willingness to play forward that will not have gone unnoticed.

There were moments, too, when he stepped out of defence entirely. On several occasions Reis drifted into midfield as a number six and looked entirely at home there, a versatility that offers Maresca options beyond the obvious.

Defensively, he was just as assured. He won every aerial duel he contested and produced one crucial intervention in the latter stages, timing a challenge under pressure in a way that spoke to his reading of the game.

Reis spent last season on loan with Girona, learning how to play in Europe ahead of a potential role in the City squad. If that was the education, this was the exam — and he passed comfortably.

Whether it earns him a permanent role remains to be seen. Against a side of Inter's calibre, though, Reis showed he is more than ready to be part of the conversation.

There was a moment in the first half at the Kai Tak Stadium that said more about Antoine Semenyo than any pre-season stat ever could. The ball came to him on the left, Andy Diouf in front, and the Ghana international simply went at him. Not sideways, not backwards. Straight at the defender.

It was exactly the sort of behaviour Enzo Maresca has been asking for since he arrived. The City boss has made it clear he wants wingers who can beat their man in one-on-one situations, and in the opening 45 minutes against Inter Milan, Semenyo, Savinho and Ryan McAidoo all showed that trait. None more so than the January signing.

Semenyo lined up on the left for the first half and spent the entire 45 minutes running at Diouf, Inter's right wing-back. The pattern was relentless. Drive, commit, go again. It was the kind of directness that makes defenders nervous before the ball even arrives.

It produced City's goal in the 14th minute. Semenyo powered to the byline and pulled the ball across goal for Divin Mubama to tap in at the back post. A few minutes later he was at it again, cutting inside onto his right foot, only for Josep Martínez to save smartly.

The friendly itself finished 1-1, with Inter taking the penalty shootout 3-1, but the scoreline was never really the point. This was about watching a winger do precisely what his manager demands of him, and doing it with a hunger that should worry every full-back City face this season.

Semenyo arrived from Bournemouth in January and was a prominent figure for Pep Guardiola's side in the second half of last season. His goals were vital, including the winner in the FA Cup final against Chelsea. Half a season in, he already looks like he belongs.

Pre-season is a time for fitness and fine-tuning, but it is also a time for statements. Semenyo made one. Maresca wants wingers who take defenders on. On this evidence, he has one who will do it all day long.

It is not often Enzo Maresca speaks in riddles. When he does, the message tends to be fairly easy to decode. His latest comments on Mateo Kovacic fall into that category.

The City head coach has hinted that the Croatian midfielder will be on his way before the transfer window shuts. He stopped short of confirming anything outright, but the direction of travel is obvious enough.

Kovacic arrived from Chelsea for £30m. The fee, tidy at the time, now reads as something of a bargain in a market where midfielders routinely command double that. Yet the logic of cashing in while there is interest is not hard to follow.

The squad is not short of options in the middle of the park. Younger legs have been arriving and the pecking order has shifted. Kovacic's experience still has its uses, particularly in the early weeks of a season, but the writing feels like it is on the wall.

Asked directly about the futures of the £130m pair, Maresca offered no firm declaration of an exit, no definitive commitment to keeping the 32-year-old. Just a nod in the general direction of the door.

What happens next depends on offers. If a suitable one arrives, the decision may make itself. For now, Kovacic's future sits somewhere between probable and inevitable, and Maresca's hint has done little to settle the uncertainty.

Manchester City's pre-season tour kicked off with a defeat, but the scoreline was never really the point. Inter Milan took the Asahi Super Dry Trophy after a 1-1 draw and a 3-1 penalty shootout win in front of a lively Hong Kong crowd.

With Erling Haaland, Rodri, Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku all still resting after their World Cup exertions, this was always going to be a night for the younger brigade to make their case. They did not disappoint.

McAidoo catches the eye

Ryan McAidoo came on at half-time and gave the 42,000-plus fans in attendance a proper look at what he can do. He almost scored a stunner, too — picking the ball up in midfield, skipping past his marker and a couple more Inter players before curling a low shot that came back off the far post.

Those who watched City's FA Cup run in January will have recognised the name. McAidoo made his first-team debut in that competition and scored in the 10-1 demolition of Exeter City. This was more evidence that his emergence was no flash in the pan.

Academy products everywhere

He wasn't the only one. Divin Mubama opened the scoring after excellent work from Antoine Semenyo down the left, while Max Alleyne, Mahamadou Sangare and Kaden Braithwaite all impressed against the Serie A champions.

Claudio Echeverri, who spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen and Girona, also played well. The Argentinian capped his evening with a panenka in the shootout — a bit of flair that suggested he's settled in nicely.

What's next?

Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes and Omar Marmoush have now linked up with the squad and are expected to feature on Wednesday when City face a K League All Stars XI. The tour then wraps up against Atletico Madrid on Sunday before a return to Manchester to prepare for the Community Shield against Arsenal on August 16th.

Nobody will remember this shootout defeat once the real business starts. But a few of the names on show in Hong Kong might just make themselves impossible to forget.

Enzo Maresca's first outing as Manchester City manager ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Inter Milan in Hong Kong on Saturday, but the Italian was far more interested in the bigger picture than the scoreline.

Speaking after the game, the 46-year-old offered a clear glimpse into his thinking on the club's next generation. The message to the academy hopefuls was simple: this pre-season is your chance.

"At the moment, with most of the young players, the idea was to see them during pre-season and then decide," Maresca said.

One player already making an impression is Ryan McAidoo. "We started 10 days ago and Ryan is working well," the manager confirmed.

Maresca's track record suggests these are not empty words. At Leicester, he handed out a record number of academy debuts. At Chelsea, he did the same. The pattern is established.

"I am always very open with young players," he said.

Watching academy products pull on the City shirt in his first game in charge clearly struck a chord. "It's amazing, it's an amazing feeling. They are from the academy. They are from the home," he reflected.

"I was happy also with their performances, so good."

On the match itself, Maresca was measured. City struggled in the first half, he admitted, but improved markedly after the break. "We struggled a bit more first half but we knew the reason why. In the second half we were much better."

With pre-season still in its infancy, fitness remains the priority. "In this moment, I think it's important the physical condition," he said, before turning his attention to what lies ahead.

"In two weeks, we are already in an important game, so it's good that they get better and better and better."

There is a quiet sense of inevitability around the Etihad these days. The noise from Spain has grown louder with every passing week, and the reality is beginning to settle in: Rodri looks destined for Real Madrid.

Former City financial adviser Stefan Borson has painted a fairly stark picture of where things stand. Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he suggested the club have essentially accepted the situation for what it is.

A loyalty test that went unanswered

The frustration, Borson argues, stems from the fact that City stood by their midfielder through his injury nightmare. Rodri missed the bulk of the 2024-25 campaign with an ACL problem and managed only a bit-part role last term. He played some part, but never a full one.

Contracts were tabled before the injury struck. The club wanted to secure their man. Given he was recuperating from such a serious issue, there was a reasonable expectation he might take the security on offer.

He didn't. He effectively gambled on himself, and the gamble appears to have paid off, if not for City.

"Man City have been trying to get him to sign a contract, even before the injury," Borson told Football Insider.

The World Cup suggested he has recovered fully. Last season suggested otherwise. Either way, City have basically lost the player for the best part of two years, and now his deal runs out in the summer of 2027.

A mediocre fee and a shrug

What grates is the financial mismatch. Real Madrid posted €1.2billion in revenue last season. City, by contrast, seem fairly relaxed about taking a mediocre fee and moving on.

Rodri's own words during the World Cup did little to calm the situation. Asked about his future, he said his only responsibility was staying focused, with anything else waiting until after the tournament. He then underwent minor back surgery following the final, leaving Enzo Maresca without his Ballon d'Or winner for pre-season.

It is a strange way for a love story to end. The loyalty was there, from one side at least. The other side simply chose a different path.

Enzo Maresca's first game in the City dugout ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Inter Milan at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday. The result itself carries little weight in July, but the performance arc — a difficult opening half followed by a brighter second — gave the new manager something to work with.

City's touring party is missing its World Cup participants from England, Norway, Spain and France, all on extended rest. That left a youthful, patched-up side to face a seasoned Inter outfit, and it showed early on.

We struggled a bit in the first-half and we know the reason why, but we were much better in the second-half.

Maresca, 46, was measured in his assessment. He pointed to the second-half improvement as encouraging, and made a point of praising the entire squad.

I was impressed with all of them and I'm happy with the performance.

The manager's message was simple: this is a starting point, not a finish line.

We will get better and better.

Semenyo's earlier observations about Maresca's methods — describing the sessions as very detailed and quite similar to Pep — seemed to fit the pattern of a side that grew into the game as it went along. The half-by-half feedback loop is evidently already in place.

There is plenty of work ahead, with fixtures against a K-League All Stars XI and Atletico Madrid still to come on the Asia tour. The shootout defeat will not linger long; the signs of progress might.

If Enzo Maresca needed any reminding of the talent already in his building, Ryan McAidoo provided it in the most emphatic way possible in Hong Kong. The 19-year-old came off the bench at half-time and spent the next 45 minutes making life miserable for the Serie A champions, a performance that landed with the timing of a player who knows the club are looking elsewhere.

City drew 1-1 with Inter at the Kai Tak Stadium, with the Italians taking the shootout 3-1 to complete the formalities of the first preseason friendly. But the scoreline was always going to be secondary. The real story was McAidoo, who tormented the Inter defence with a display of dribbling and directness that had the Blues' bench watching closely.

His numbers, via SofaScore, were striking. Fifty touches, 30 of 36 passes completed, two crosses, two of three dribbles completed and eight progressive carries. The headline moment came in the 80th minute, when he picked the ball up on the halfway line, surged past the Inter backline and clipped the post, with substitute keeper Ivan Provedel beaten.

It was the kind of run that tends to make a manager sit up a little straighter. Maresca, for one, needed no convincing.

"We were speaking with the club and since day one I said he is the kind of winger I love. He is very aggressive one v one, he always tries, makes the right decisions. But he is very young and he needs the right path. If you look in the last the clubs I was part of, I always ask for those kinds of wingers."

That last line is worth holding onto. Maresca's history suggests he will get what he wants, and if McAidoo keeps producing cameos like this, the club might conclude the answer to their winger search is already at home. Semenyo, dominant from the left in the first half, only added to that sense of internal options.

City remain in the market this summer, of course. But McAidoo has just made a very persuasive argument that the path to the first team runs through him.

Enzo Maresca's first game in charge of City finished level after 90 minutes, with Divin Mubama and Benjamin Pavard trading goals before Inter Milan took the bonus point on penalties in Hong Kong on Saturday.

The Italian's reign began with a 1-1 draw, a result that will hardly have anyone reaching for the panic button in July, though the 3-1 shootout loss to the Serie A side gives the scoreline a slightly more jagged edge than the performance warranted.

Mubama, the young forward, put the Blues ahead in the 14th minute with a close-range finish after Antoine Semenyo's cross from the byline. It was the kind of direct, decisive move Maresca will want to see more of as pre-season rolls on.

Inter's reply came six minutes later, Pavard restoring parity with a goal that left the scores level at the break and beyond. From there, neither side could find a winner, and the game drifted to penalties, where Inter's 3-1 success settled the day's business.

“I am very happy,” Maresca said afterwards, per the club's official channels.

The draw is the headline, the shootout defeat a footnote. For a first competitive-ish outing, there were worse ways to start. The real tests, of course, come when the season proper begins.

Enzo Maresca's reign as Manchester City manager began with a draw and a penalty shoot-out defeat to Inter Milan at Kai Tak Stadium.

The Blues took the lead inside 14 minutes when Divin Mubama found the net, giving the new boss an early glimpse of the attacking threat at his disposal. Inter, however, responded to level the score at 1-1, and with no winner after ninety minutes, the game went to penalties.

Inter held their nerve from the spot, converting four of their attempts to City's two, securing a 4-2 shoot-out win and handing Maresca a first taste of the fine margins that define football at this level.

For Maresca, the occasion was about more than the result. With a reshaped squad and a new era underway, the Hong Kong heat offered an early opportunity to assess his options. Mubama's early strike will have pleased the manager, even if the shoot-out defeat leaves a slightly sour note on an otherwise promising opening.

Pre-season is about preparation, and there will be sterner tests ahead. But for now, the Italian will take the positives — a bright start, a young striker on the scoresheet, and a first competitive look at his side in action.

There was a time when the City transfer strategy appeared almost impossible to challenge. The Blues would identify a target, move quickly, and get the deal done with a mix of financial muscle, pulling power and sheer ambition. The biggest names in world football were within reach, and City had no hesitation in acting.

That era has passed. The current window feels different — quieter, more deliberate, and harder to read from the outside.

Brutal but effective

The old approach was brutal in its efficiency. If the club wanted a player, they went and got him. No long sagas, no public bidding wars, just a clear plan and the resources to execute it.

Now the strategy has shifted. The focus appears to be on building the next team rather than adding the next superstar.

What’s changed

The squad is in transition. Key figures have moved on, and the club are bringing in fresh faces without the same fanfare. The deals are quieter, the names less obvious, but the intent is clear: rebuild the core before the new season begins.

It is a different kind of ruthlessness — less about making a statement, more about getting the structure right.

Looking ahead

With pre-season approaching, City’s work in the market is far from finished. The manager will want his new pieces integrated before the first competitive match.

But the real test will come when the season starts. That is when the quiet work of this summer will be judged.

For now, the Blues are building — not with noise, but with purpose.

Manchester City have put forward a revised proposal to soften the transfer levy increase at the centre of the Premier League's landmark £1.5 billion New Deal with the English Football League, according to a new report. The move comes as clubs wrangle over how to fund a ten-year framework intended to underpin the financial sustainability of the professional game in England.

Under the current proposal, Premier League clubs are being asked to raise the existing domestic transfer levy from four percent to six percent. City's alternative would restrict the hike to a single percentage point, taking the levy to five percent rather than the two-point rise on the table.

At least one other Premier League club is said to endorse City's revised approach. A further club has reportedly proposed a separate alternative: a cap on the total amount of revenue the higher levy would raise before it reverted to the existing four percent.

Big six discussions

According to Sky News, some members of the so-called big six — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur — have held discussions in recent days about modifying the proposal. The New Deal itself is structured as a sliding-scale arrangement, with the first annual payment to the EFL expected to be below £100 million when the 2026-27 season begins, rising to £164 million by the third year and remaining at that level through the remainder of the ten-year period.

Separately, a new lifeboat fund worth £20 million is proposed as part of the deal to assist EFL clubs that fall into administration.

The redistribution agreement has been in discussion for over three years.

Separate from the 115 case

Sky News makes clear there is no suggestion that City oppose the funding settlement in principle. The club and the Premier League are still awaiting the outcome of their case involving 115 alleged breaches of financial rules brought in 2023, though the transfer levy proposal is understood to be a separate matter entirely from that ongoing dispute.

The final structure must command a 14-vote majority among Premier League clubs to pass.

Manchester City and Real Madrid are at a standoff over Rodri's proposed switch to the Bernabeu, according to journalist Luca Cerchione. The two clubs have yet to find common ground, with the midfielder's future hanging in the balance as pre-season approaches.

Enzo Maresca's side are holding their ground on a €75m (£64m) asking price for the Spanish international. That valuation has not been met, and Real have not improved on their opening offer.

Cerchione reports that the negotiations have hit a wall. Madrid's initial bid remains on the table, and City have shown no inclination to lower their demands.

For now, the ball sits with the Spanish giants. They must decide whether to match the Blues' valuation or walk away from a deal that has dragged on through the summer.

Rodri's situation adds another layer of intrigue to a window already shaped by departures. Bernardo Silva and John Stones have left the club, and Maresca is reshaping his squad ahead of a season that begins on 23rd August.

City's first pre-season fixture against Inter Milan on 1st August looms. Whether Rodri is part of that squad remains to be seen.

The stalemate leaves a cloud over the midfield. Madrid's next move will determine how this saga concludes.

Manchester City are staring at the prospect of losing Rodri this summer, with Real Madrid closing in on the midfielder's signature. The Blues are unlikely to command the fee their star deserves, according to former City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who has told Football Insider that the club should be holding out for upwards of £85million.

Instead, the reality looks rather different. Borson suggests City are prepared to accept around €75m (£64.1m), possibly even €70m (£59.8m), as the Spain international enters the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad.

That gap between value and offer is stark.

Casemiro comparison

Borson draws a direct parallel with Casemiro's move to Manchester United. That deal saw £60m paid upfront with £10m in add-ons, for a player of a similar age and contract situation. The comparison does not flatter City's negotiating position.

"In my view, the right number would be €100m (£85m), but it doesn't look like City are asking for that, and I would expect him to go, unfortunately."

The direction of travel is clear. Real Madrid have made no secret of their interest in the 30-year-old Ballon d'Or winner, with Jose Mourinho a notable admirer. The increasing consensus is that Rodri will make the switch this summer, even if a contract extension has not been fully ruled out.

Borson is resigned to the outcome.

"The direction of travel is that he will go. Man City seem to be happy at around €75m (£64.1m), maybe €70m (£59.8m)."

Maresca's stance

Enzo Maresca is well aware of what he would be losing. The City manager has been unequivocal about Rodri's importance, calling him a top player any manager in the world would want. Yet he also acknowledged the practicalities, noting that Rodri needs his holiday before the gruelling schedule begins.

"It's very important. Any manager in the world wants Rodri because he's a top player."

The arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest should soften the blow, but it would still be a painful farewell for supporters. Whether City truly push for a better fee or accept a favour to a loyal servant remains to be seen. Either way, the clock is ticking.

Enzo Maresca takes charge of Manchester City for the first time today, and he has wasted no time putting his stamp on the side. The Blues face Inter Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, their first preseason friendly of the summer, with a starting eleven that looks anything but experimental.

Maresca has only had just under two weeks with his squad, yet he has named a strong lineup for the occasion. Gianluigi Donnarumma starts in goal, with Rico Lewis at right-back and Stephen Mfuni on the left. Abdukodir Khusanov and Josko Gvardiol form the centre-back pairing, while Mateo Kovacic and Tijjani Reijnders anchor the midfield.

Further forward, Phil Foden captains the side, with Savinho, Antoine Semenyo and young striker Divin Mubama given the nod up front. It is a bold selection, and one that suggests Maresca wants to hit the ground running.

Eyes on Lewis and Mfuni

Rico Lewis starts at right-back, and it will be interesting to see if he plays as an inverted right-back in today’s match. Stephen Mfuni looks set to start at left-back, and will be fascinating to see how he goes in the role. Both players have a point to prove in this new setup.

It is only a friendly, but the first team sheet of a new era always carries a bit of weight. Maresca has picked a side that says he means business from the off.

Paul Merson has stirred the pot in his latest Sky Sports column, suggesting City could let Rodri leave this summer. The pundit points to the £116m arrival of Elliot Anderson as the reason the Blues might be willing to part with their midfield anchor.

Merson doesn't see how the two fit together.

Writing in his Sky Sports column, he said he couldn't work out how Rodri and Anderson would share the same midfield. The logic being that with Anderson's price tag, City may have already planned for life after the Portuguese international.

“Rodri is the best in the business at ticking it over,” Merson wrote.

That praise doesn't stop him from suggesting City could cope without him, though. The claim is bold, especially given Rodri's importance in recent seasons, but Merson seems convinced that Anderson's arrival changes the equation.

Whether City actually sell remains to be seen, but Merson has thrown a genuine talking point into a quiet July.

Manchester City have flexed their financial muscle in the youth market once again, beating Arsenal to the signatures of both Jeremy Monga and Mishel Nduka. Wages proved the decisive factor in both pursuits, with the Blues making clear their spending power extends far beyond the senior squad.

The 17-year-old Monga arrives from Leicester City in a deal worth £10 million, signing a five-year contract to 2031. Arsenal had been leading the race for the winger before City intervened at the 11th hour, with the Gunners unwilling to match the valuation Leicester placed on a player whose 37 senior appearances, including seven in the Premier League, had made him one of the most coveted teenage talents in English football.

Nduka's move is arguably more pointed. The 16-year-old joins from Arsenal's Hale End academy, having spent just a single season at the north London club after arriving from Charlton Athletic in September 2025.

According to Isaan Khan of Mail Sport, Nduka's deal at City includes a salary of £20,000 per week, putting him on approximately £1 million per year and significantly outstripping what Arsenal were prepared to offer a player leaving their own academy system. Monga, meanwhile, is understood to be on considerably more, reflecting the higher-profile nature of a signing that comes with a £10 million transfer fee attached.

Viana's blueprint

Both signings reflect a broader strategic approach from director of football Hugo Viana, who has shown a willingness to invest at scholarship level that Arsenal, despite their long-standing reputation as one of England's foremost developers of young talent, have been unwilling to match when it comes to wages for academy-age players.

The wage figures underline a financial dynamic in the academy market that City have been willing to exploit where rivals have hesitated. The club's backing of the brightest emerging talent at scholarship level carries a premium that is now visibly reshaping the landscape of domestic youth recruitment.

Arsenal's difficulty in retaining players developed within their own Hale End system, losing Nduka to a rival club after just one season, raises pointed questions about whether the north London club's wage structures at academy level are aligned with the ambitions they hold for their development pipeline.

A summer of movement

The signings of Monga and Nduka continue a summer in which City's recruitment team has moved decisively across multiple age groups simultaneously. The focus on long-term development asset acquisition runs in parallel to the senior window activity that has produced the £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson.

Monga's trajectory is among the most remarkable in recent English football. The teenager became the third-youngest Premier League player ever during a debut season at Leicester that defied reasonable expectation for a player of his age. His arrival in the City Football Academy gives Enzo Maresca's coaching structure one of the most explosive young wide players available anywhere within the Premier League's academy system.

Nduka, meanwhile, represents a different kind of addition. He is a player still at the earliest stages of his development, but one whom City's scouts have identified as possessing the attributes to flourish within the same environment that produced Phil Foden, Nico O'Reilly and Ryan McAidoo.

The wages City are prepared to offer both players reflect a calculation that has served Viana and his predecessors well: investing heavily at the point of entry is the most reliable way to secure elite young talent before rivals can mobilise. The financial commitment required is a fraction of what correcting a missed opportunity costs further down the line.

The twin captures have sent a clear message about the financial ambition underpinning City's recruitment operation at every level of the game. The wage advantage over domestic rivals extends well beyond the senior market, and Arsenal, for all their famed youth development, have been left to ponder what might have been.

Sandro Tonali has explained why he joined Tottenham this summer, revealing that his mind was made up within a quarter of an hour of speaking with the club. The 26-year-old left Newcastle United in the current transfer window, ending a spell that had drawn interest from a number of Premier League sides.

Manchester City had been tracking the Italy international closely, with director of football Hugo Viana among those who assessed him as a possible piece in the midfield rebuild being directed by Enzo Maresca. Yet City never moved to a formal offer, and Tonali has now detailed how Spurs won the race for his signature.

According to the player, the decisive factor was the approach taken by Tottenham's representatives. He said he spoke with two teams, but the clarity of the pitch from the north London club stood out.

They spoke with 100 per cent passion, 100 per cent seriousness. Roberto and the director made the difference to the deal.

Tonali also credited his wife, who he said encouraged him to trust his own judgement in the process.

After the last season, I spoke with my wife. We wanted to change our life. I spoke after two minutes with my wife and my family and I said, 'Probably it will be one of my best decisions of my career.' She told me, 'You have 100 per cent the control over this decision.'

He added that he understood after 10 or 15 minutes that Tottenham would be his next team.

What it means for City's plans

For City, the failure to land Tonali has not derailed their summer business. The £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest addressed the most urgent need in the Blues' midfield, while the club continues to pursue Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.

That chase has been taken seriously at the highest level, with CEO Ferran Soriano understood to have held a personal meeting with Lille president Olivier Létang to advance talks. The Tonali interest may be over, but the rebuild rolls on.

Phil Foden has signed a contract extension with Manchester City that runs until the summer of 2030, a move that lands ahead of the club's preseason tour of Asia. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders are clearly backing the 26-year-old to rediscover his best form, despite a difficult campaign that saw him fall down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola.

The deal is a significant statement of intent from the Blues.

A Season of Two Halves

Foden was among City's best performers early in the 2025-26 season, with his move into midfield paying off as he looked at home in a new role. Yet that form did not hold. In an in-depth interview with Simon Bajkowski for The Manchester Evening News, Foden reflected on what went wrong.

"It was like a season of two halves for me. I think the first half of it was really good. I performed quite well and in the second half I couldn’t really get going and then get a lot of game time."

He added: "Obviously I’m an adaptable player as well, so it doesn’t help sometimes when you’re changing a lot of positions and it’s hard to maintain the performance of one position, but sometimes it just happens. It’s football. People who were playing in front of me was performing very well as well. And sometimes that’s just the way it is."

World Cup Omission Stings

The drop-off had consequences. Foden missed out on selection for England's 2026 World Cup squad, a bitter blow after two seasons in which his performances drew criticism. But the midfielder has come out the other side determined to use the doubters as fuel.

"You’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt and then just try and react and prove people wrong and that’s all you can do really. A fresh start now and hopefully that doesn’t happen again," he said.

City's Backing

City have maintained faith in Foden, and the contract extension is a big indication they will do all they can to help him turn the corner. The club know that when Foden is in supreme form, they become a different beast for opponents to handle.

A hungry, determined and motivated Foden, entering the prime years of his career, could be one of the stars of the 2026-27 season. The platform is set; now it is up to the man himself to deliver.