Manchester City are working on a deal to bring Palmeiras winger Allan Elias to the Etihad, with the club bracing for Savinho's departure to Tottenham.

The Athletic's David Ornstein, Mario Cortegana, Guillermo Rai and Sam Lee report that City have identified the 22-year-old as the man to fill the void on the right flank. It is a move that makes sense: Savinho seems destined to sign for Spurs in the near future, and City remain in the market for a winger, especially one who can operate on the right.

Elias fits the profile Maresca tends to favour. He is an all-action wide man, strong on both sides of the ball, quick, and comfortable in several positions. He can play on either wing, as an attacking midfielder, or in a more central midfield role if required. His game is built around aggression — an aggressive dribbler who thrives on taking on a full-back in wide areas, and a tireless worker out of possession who isn't afraid to get stuck into a duel and track back.

He is adept at winning duels, which should serve him well in a Maresca side that demands its wingers put in a shift defensively as well as going forward.

"He isn't a big name so to speak, but his strengths do line up with what Enzo Maresca would want for a winger."

Since breaking into the Palmeiras first team in 2025, Elias has scored six goals and added five assists in 48 appearances in Brazil's Serie A. He has spent his entire career at the São Paulo club.

There is, however, a catch. Palmeiras maintain that Elias isn't for sale this summer, and his contract includes a €100 million release clause. City will have to be persuasive if they want to prise him away.

Elias is the latest winger to be linked with City this summer, and it remains to be seen whether this one ends with a signature. But the Blues are clearly doing their homework on the Brazilian.

Nico Gonzalez has moved to end speculation over his Manchester City future, insisting he is happy at the Etihad and has no intention of leaving. The 24-year-old's comments come as Newcastle United emerge as the latest club linked with his signature.

The midfielder, who arrived from FC Porto in February last year for a reported £50 million, has found himself the subject of fresh transfer talk during a chaotic summer of change at City. With the window entering its final stretch, the Magpies are reportedly in talks with the Blues over a potential deal, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Gonzalez, however, was unequivocal when asked about his situation after City's 3-1 pre-season win over K-League All Stars in Hong Kong.

"I'm happy here. I don't want to leave and I think the club wants me to stay. I haven't seen anything but I'm happy here."

It is a public show of commitment that will be welcomed by supporters still adjusting to life after Pep Guardiola. Enzo Maresca has taken over following Guardiola's exit, and the squad has already seen significant turnover.

A Summer of Change

Bernardo Silva and John Stones departed when their contracts expired, while Nathan Ake, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders have also moved on. Elliot Anderson arrived as the club's record signing at £116 million, but beyond that, the business has been quiet.

Gonzalez started 28 of his 41 appearances last season but fell down the midfield pecking order under Guardiola in the second half of the campaign. That, combined with Rodri's confirmed move to Barcelona and Reijnders' switch to Al Qadsiah this week, has fuelled speculation that City might strengthen in the middle of the park.

Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi has been tipped to agree personal terms with the Blues, while Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez remains heavily linked with a reunion with Maresca. Any arrival would add further competition for places.

Competition Is the Point

Gonzalez, though, insists that competition is exactly what makes City tick.

"We are one of the best teams in the world and obviously there is competition in every position. That is what makes us be in the position that we are, winning so many Premier Leagues and competing for everything."

The former Barcelona academy graduate has made 59 appearances for City, scoring four goals, and remains under contract until the summer of 2029. He admits last season's game time exceeded his own expectations.

"I try not to focus on if I play or not. I try to focus on working well and being ready when I have to play. To be honest, last season I couldn't have expected to have played almost 30 matches in the starting XI."

Whether Newcastle's interest amounts to anything more remains to be seen. For now, the message from the player is clear enough.

The timing could hardly be worse. Less than a week after Rodri packed his bags for Barcelona, City find themselves linked with a 22-year-old England midfielder who, by all accounts, is not for sale.

That midfielder is Adam Wharton, and the bookmakers have taken note. City have been installed as favourites to sign the Crystal Palace man before the window shuts, with odds slashed to 7/2.

Reports emerged on Thursday that the Blues had enquired about Wharton. Palace, though, have made their position clear: he is going nowhere.

“He is not for sale and they have no intention of letting him go before the window closes.”

Wharton has been linked with a string of Premier League clubs this summer, Chelsea and Liverpool among them. Chelsea were previously the favourites to land him, but their odds have drifted out to 8/1 as City have jumped to the head of the queue.

The interest is understandable. Rodri's departure has left a hole in midfield that needs filling, and Wharton's numbers from last season make for pleasant reading. According to Fotmob, he averaged 0.18 assists, 0.26 xA, 1.55 chances created and 0.49 big chances created per 90 minutes in the top flight. Defensively, he chipped in with 2.46 tackles, 0.95 interceptions, 5.80 recoveries and 0.60 possessions won in the final third.

Palace, it should be noted, are not in the business of selling their best players on the cheap. The club have won three major trophies in recent years, a golden era that Wharton has been part of. They will not want to lose him now.

With less than two weeks of the window remaining, City's search for a Rodri replacement has taken on a familiar urgency. Whether Palace budge is another matter entirely.

Manchester City's summer shopping list appears to have grown by one name. Reports have linked the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders with Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, a player who has suddenly emerged as a viable option in the club's search for midfield depth.

Two separate outlets have flagged Wharton as a potential target. Jack Rosser of The Sun suggests City could consider a move for the England international, while Ben Ransom of Sky Sports indicates that while Wharton wasn't initially on the club's list of targets, that stance has softened.

The reported price tag? Palace's asking price is unknown, but Rosser hints that a package of up to £100 million might be required to prise him away from Selhurst Park.

What Wharton Would Bring

At 22, Wharton is still young, but his qualities are already well established. He possesses elite vision, scans the pitch exceptionally well before receiving the ball, and can execute every pass in the book. His left foot is a wand, capable of breaking open a game in an instant. His ability to break the lines with a decisive ball is almost second to none in English football.

There is, however, a caveat. Wharton's biggest weakness is his work out of possession. He isn't elite in that regard, struggling in physical duels and covering the pitch effectively. It's a knock that has followed him throughout his career.

The Current Midfield Picture

City currently have Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, and Nico Gonzalez as recognised midfielders who could form a double pivot. Nico O'Reilly and Rico Lewis could also slot into that role. The club are clearly looking to bolster this area of the pitch, and Wharton's name now joins the conversation.

Ransom also reports that the expectation is City will make a move for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, which suggests Wharton might not be the primary target. But with two reports naming him, it's clear he's on the radar.

Whether City are willing to meet Palace's demands remains to be seen. The price tag, if it does reach £100 million, would be a significant investment in a player with clear talent but also clear limitations. For now, Wharton is a name to watch as the summer window continues.

Manchester City's recruitment team have identified Palmeiras winger Allan Elias as a primary target, with the 22-year-old one of several names on a list drawn up for the current window. The Brazilian club, however, are digging in.

Palmeiras maintain Elias is not for sale this summer, despite a release clause in his contract set at €100 million. Whether that figure proves a ceiling or a starting point remains to be seen.

The pursuit comes as City brace for the departure of Savinho, who is pushing for a move to Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham. Talks between the two clubs over a double deal involving Omar Marmoush are ongoing, and the North London side have made no secret of their intent.

There is a logic to the scramble. With Jeremy Doku reportedly injured and Savinho seemingly heading for the exit, the right-wing berth suddenly looks thin. Add in the sales of Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah and Rodri to Barcelona, plus Bernardo Silva's free transfer to Real Madrid, and the squad is beginning to resemble a jigsaw with several pieces missing.

It is a lot of movement in one window, even by modern standards.

Newcastle, meanwhile, continue to hover over Nico Gonzalez, which would only add to the sense of a squad in transition.

Should City fail to land Elias, alternatives are being monitored. Chelsea's Pedro Neto has long been admired at the Etihad — Enzo Maresca knows him well from his time at Stamford Bridge — but the Blues have slapped a £100 million valuation on the Portugal international.

Further down the list sit Wolves' Mateus Mane and Paris Saint-Germain's Ibrahim Mbaye. RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande was also of interest, though that ship has sailed: a deal worth up to £120 million has taken him to Real Madrid.

The transfer market rarely stands still, and City's activity suggests they are not waiting for the dust to settle.

The summer exodus of Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders has left a conspicuous hole in City's engine room, and the club's recruitment machine is working overtime to fill it before the September 1st deadline.

According to the Daily Mail, Roma's Manu Kone has joined a growing list of names under consideration by Enzo Maresca's side. The France international, 25, is viewed as a potential fallback option should more ambitious targets fail to materialise.

Director of Football Hugo Viana has been handed the task of adding depth in the middle of the park, and the funds are certainly available. City have already banked £117m from the sales of Rodri and Reijnders, a figure that would barely flinch at Roma's £51m asking price for Kone.

Roma, the Serie A champions, are thought to be willing to listen to offers, though they have set their valuation accordingly.

"That is not a figure that would deter City, who have already raised £117m from the sales of Rodri and Reijnders."

Kone is not the only midfielder on the radar. Ayyoub Bouaddi's move from Lille is still expected to be finalised, but it increasingly looks like more than one addition could arrive before the window shuts.

There is also the small matter of Enzo Fernandez. Maresca is said to be very keen on a reunion with the Argentine, having worked with him for 18 months at Stamford Bridge. However, Chelsea's £120m asking price remains a significant stumbling block. Chelsea, for their part, have reportedly considered Kone themselves but appear more interested in Bournemouth's Alex Scott.

United had talks with Kone's agent last month before turning their attention to Brighton's Carlos Baleba, leaving City with a clearer run at the Roma man if they choose to pursue him.

An enquiry was also lodged for Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, but the Eagles have made it clear he is not for sale.

With so many plates spinning, Kone's name on the list offers a sense of pragmatism. Whether he becomes the answer or merely a footnote in a busy summer remains to be seen.

Nico Gonzalez is not going anywhere without a fight. Despite City's willingness to talk business with Newcastle United, the 24-year-old is adamant his future lies at the Etihad.

Fabrizio Romano reports the Spanish midfielder remains convinced he can be an important player under Enzo Maresca and believes he is capable of showing his best form. That is a stance worth noting, given the noise around a potential departure.

Newcastle have already held talks over a move for Gonzalez, with the Manchester Evening News confirming on Wednesday that discussions had taken place between the clubs. The Magpies are looking to strengthen their midfield before the window closes, and City are quite open to doing business.

Yet there is no suggestion an agreement has been reached. Not yet, anyway.

The context here matters. This is not simply a case of a fringe player being shuffled out. City have already lost Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders this summer, leaving a significant hole in the middle of the park. The club are closing in on Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi and have identified Roma's Manu Koné as a potential target.

The Guardian reports Gonzalez could be allowed to leave before the deadline as part of that wider midfield reshaping. A £50m arrival from Porto in February 2025, he has never quite established himself as a guaranteed starter.

For now, though, the player himself is digging in. Whether that proves enough to keep him at the club remains to be seen, but the message from his camp is clear enough.

Tottenham's summer spending spree shows no signs of slowing. According to reports, they have set their sights on not one but two Manchester City forwards, with Omar Marmoush already giving the green light to a move to north London.

The Egypt international, 27, has reportedly told Spurs he wants in. Personal terms are yet to be finalised, though nobody is expecting that to be a stumbling block. His camp have heard what Tottenham have to say and, apparently, they like it.

Why the sudden eagerness to leave the reigning FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders? The answer is as obvious as it is inevitable: Erling Haaland. Marmoush will never be the regular starter through the middle at City while the Norwegian is around. He wants to play centrally again, the way he did at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Tottenham are offering him exactly that.

City, for their part, are open to selling both Marmoush and Savinho — but not cheaply. talkSPORT and Ben Jacobs have claimed the Blues want £150m combined for the pair. Tottenham are currently £10m short of that, willing to go to £140m for the two of them.

Savinho, 22, agreed personal terms with Spurs earlier in the summer, and on Wednesday David Ornstein revealed club-to-club talks between the two clubs were progressing. If both deals go through, Tottenham's summer spend would rocket past £370m — and that's before you factor in Cody Gakpo.

Spurs are also pushing hard for the Liverpool winger, whom the Reds value at £70m. Gakpo, 27, has agreed personal terms and is desperate to make the move, with Roberto De Zerbi convincing him he'll start regularly and be central to the project. Liverpool, though, won't give the final green light until they've signed, or come close to signing, two more wingers. They've already banked Victor Munoz and are chasing Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye of PSG, with talks happening daily.

If Gakpo joins the fold too, Tottenham's total outlay this summer would sail past £450m. For a club that has spent nothing on forwards so far this window, that would represent one hell of a statement.

One suspects the Etihad hierarchy won't be losing sleep over any of this. Selling two squad players for £140m is the kind of business that keeps accountants happy and squad lists manageable. Whether Tottenham get their entirely new front three remains to be seen, but they are certainly making all the right noises.

There is a particular kind of transfer story that does the rounds every summer, the one that sounds brilliant on a napkin and falls apart the moment anyone checks the wage bill. Milan's apparent interest in swapping Rafael Leao for Ruben Dias has that exact aroma.

According to reports out of Italy, the Rossoneri are working with super-agent Jorge Mendes to find a way out for Leao, and the idea of a trade involving another of his clients has been broached. That client, of course, is Dias.

On the surface, it is the kind of deal that gets supporters talking. In reality, it looks like a stretch. Milan would need to add a conspicuous sum to make it happen, and the defender's wages are said to make the whole proposition improbable. You do not need to be a mathematician to see the problem taking shape.

The Numbers Behind the Noise

Dias has been a transformative figure since arriving from Benfica for €71M in 2020. He has amassed 256 appearances and, along the way, collected four Premier League titles and a Champions League winners' medal. He is, by any measure, a proven commodity.

Leao, for all his talent, is a player Milan seem increasingly eager to move on. Selling him well has quickly become their main priority, and the club's officials are confident Mendes will deliver suitable offers. He certainly has the contacts. Mendes spent six hours at Milan's headquarters after completing the Diego Moreira signing, which has only fuelled speculation about what else might be in the pipeline.

There is, however, a gap between ambition and reality. Milan remain determined to pocket €60M from Leao's departure, according to Gianluca Di Marzio. Galatasaray have tabled more than €40M but fallen short of that request. Offers from the Turkish side and the Saudi Pro League have been put on the back burner while Leao waits for something more enticing.

Milan will assess over the coming days whether a swap with Dias is genuinely viable. They won't rush the process, and they shouldn't. The smart money says this one stays in the realm of imagination.

Manchester City's recruitment team are working on the assumption that Savinho's time at the Etihad is coming to an end, with Palmeiras winger Allan emerging as a leading candidate to fill the void.

Foot Mercato's Santi Aouna reports that the Blues have made tangible progress in their attempts to sign the 22-year-old Brazilian, a move framed explicitly as preparation for the probable departure of the current wide man.

Significantly, Aouna says the move has been made in anticipation of the probable departure of Savinho, whose future has become one of the major issues still to be resolved before the transfer window closes.

Allan has four goals and two assists from 20 Serie A appearances for Palmeiras this season, enough to mark him out as an important figure in their plans. He is also, notably, left-footed — a detail that will not have escaped the analytics department.

Palmeiras, however, are not playing ball. They rejected an approach from Aston Villa last month that could have reached €30m — roughly £26m — including bonuses, and made it abundantly clear they had no intention of selling mid-season.

There has been no indication since that their position has shifted, nor that any agreement has been reached with City. What we have, then, is a club quietly doing its homework on a Plan B while the Savinho situation rumbles on.

How quickly this moves depends entirely on whether a buyer emerges for Savinho. Until then, Allan remains an option being explored rather than a deal being done. Patience, as ever, is the order of the day.

The reshaping of City's midfield this summer has been hard to miss. Elliot Anderson has already walked through the door, and now Ayyoub Bouaddi appears to be following him through it.

Talks between City and Lille are said to be in their final stages, with another round of discussions scheduled between the clubs. Fabrizio Romano reports that the two sides are preparing further talks aimed at getting the deal over the line, with the 18-year-old waiting for permission to travel for his medical.

ESPN had earlier claimed City were closing in on the Morocco international and wanted the move completed this week. L'Équipe then suggested negotiations would speed up after Rodri's departure for Barcelona, with Bouaddi potentially becoming the most expensive player ever sold from Ligue 1.

Romano now describes the negotiations as being at the “final stages”, with Bouaddi waiting for the green light to travel for his medical.

If the deal goes through, City will have added another young midfielder to a squad that is clearly being rebuilt in the middle of the park. Anderson's arrival was the first move; Bouaddi would be the second.

At 18, he is one of the most highly regarded young players in Europe, but he already carries considerable senior experience. For a player his age, that is not nothing.

There is no official confirmation yet, but all the signs point to City getting their man sooner rather than later.

There is a particular kind of standoff that only football's transfer market can produce. Chelsea set a deadline, the deadline came and went, and here we are, still talking about Enzo Fernandez. The Blues' self-imposed 5pm cutoff last Friday for written offers of £120 million has long since passed. Nothing happened. Or rather, nothing publicly happened, which in this market amounts to the same thing.

Enzo Maresca wants Fernandez at the Etihad. That much has been clear for a while. The two worked together at Chelsea, which gives the City manager a familiarity with the midfielder that most of his rivals cannot claim. Whether that familiarity translates into a deal is another matter entirely.

Conflicting signals

TalkSport's Martha Riley reports that City intend to submit a bid for the player Maresca wants to add to his squad. City sources, according to Riley, believe Chelsea could be open to selling despite their own deadline having expired. The logic runs that a deadline is only as firm as the club that sets it, and Chelsea have form for flexibility when the price is right.

But then there is the other side. Riley also reports that Chelsea are working off the notion that Fernandez will remain a Chelsea player next season. And Sam Lee of The Athletic has poured a little cold water on the whole affair, reporting that City have no intention of paying £120 million for the Argentine.

City sources believe Chelsea could be open to selling Enzo Fernandez despite their self-imposed deadline having passed.

So where does that leave everyone? Chelsea have a player they seem prepared to keep. City have a manager who wants him but a hierarchy that appears unwilling to meet the asking price. Fernandez, presumably, is somewhere in the middle, watching the two clubs circle each other like heavyweight boxers who have both decided the first punch is not worth throwing.

The cynic might note that deadlines in football are often less about firmness and more about theatre. The £120 million figure was always going to be the sticking point. City have rarely paid that kind of money for anyone, and there is little to suggest they will start now, particularly for a player whose Chelsea career has been a curious mix of promise and inconsistency.

What happens next is anyone's guess. The window remains open, and the rumour mill shows no signs of slowing. But if City are waiting for Chelsea to blink first, they may be waiting a while. And if Chelsea are waiting for City to produce the kind of cheque they have never shown much appetite for writing, they may be disappointed too.

For now, the only certainty is that the deadline has passed, the offers have not arrived, and the saga continues. Somewhere, a Chelsea accountant is probably wondering why they bothered setting a deadline at all.

Manchester City have quietly shelved any plans to sign a new right-back this summer. The decision, confirmed internally, leaves the position to be covered by existing options, with Matheus Nunes and Abdukodir Khusanov expected to share the burden.

Nunes, who arrived from Wolves for £53 million in 2023, turned in his best season at the Etihad last term while operating out of position. It was a campaign that prompted Pep Guardiola to describe him as 'one of the best players in the world today' — albeit after a 5-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in February 2022, when Nunes was still an opponent.

Khusanov, meanwhile, offers a reliable alternative in a role that has lacked a natural occupant since Kyle Walker left on loan in January 2025, making the move permanent six months later.

Midfield Rebuild Takes Shape

With the right-back question settled, attention has shifted firmly to midfield. The departures of Rodri — confirmed on Tuesday in a £65.4 million move to Barcelona — and Tijjani Reijnders, who flew to Saudi Arabia to finalise his exit, have left gaps that City intend to fill before the window closes.

Two midfielders are the priority in the final fortnight. The Blues are weighing up a move for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, valued at £120 million by those at Stamford Bridge, while Rodri's exit is expected to accelerate the pursuit of Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi.

There is an acceptance at the Etihad that less business has been completed than hoped, with just a few weeks remaining. Elliot Anderson, Geronimo Rulli and Jeremy Monga have arrived from Nottingham Forest, Olympique Marseille and Leicester City respectively, but a brutal Community Shield defeat to Arsenal has done little to reassure supporters.

The defence leaked simple goals against Arsenal, and goals from midfield have been scarce since the exits of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne. A winger is still on the shopping list, with Savinho hoping for a move to Tottenham — who have been told to pay £85 million for the 22-year-old Brazilian.

Plenty of food for thought, then, for director of football Hugo Viana and his boardroom colleagues in what remains of the window.

Manchester City's summer of midfield surgery may not be finished just yet. According to the Daily Mail, the club have added Roma's Manu Koné to their list of targets, with the window still open and work to do.

The 25-year-old France international has been on Manchester United's shortlist for several weeks, but City's interest threatens to turn a straightforward chase into a genuine tug-of-war. The Guardian reports that the Blues value Koné at around £50m, while Roma have been seeking roughly €60m (£51m) — a gap small enough to be closed with a decent offer.

Roma, for their part, have already fielded enquiries from several clubs. That they are still listening suggests a deal is there to be done, provided someone meets their valuation.

A midfield in transition

City's need for another body in the middle is not hard to understand. Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders have both left the Etihad this summer, leaving a significant hole in the engine room. Elliot Anderson has already been signed, and the club are working on Ayyoub Bouaddi, but the squad still looks light in that department.

Koné would bring energy and athleticism to a midfield that has lost two of its most important operators. At 25, he fits the profile of a player entering his peak years rather than a project for the future.

United's dilemma

United's interest in Koné is long-standing, but they are not sitting still. Michael Carrick is searching for another dynamic midfielder despite having already added Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, and Sky Sports previously reported that Koné and Brighton's Carlos Baleba were both strongly considered as a third addition.

United are simultaneously advancing their pursuit of Baleba, which raises a question: do they really need both? If they land the Brighton man, Koné could be left for City to pick up.

It is a familiar feeling for United fans, watching their club circle a target only for City to stroll in late and complicate matters. Whether they hold their nerve or pivot fully to Baleba will determine how this one plays out.

Angus Kinnear has a way with words. The Everton chief executive, discussing Jack Grealish, delivered a line that will have raised a smile or two on both sides of the divide: the midfielder has, in Kinnear's estimation, "fallen in love with the right shade of blue."

It is a phrase that hints at something more than professional admiration. Grealish spent the whole of last season on Merseyside, scoring twice and laying on six assists in 22 appearances before a foot injury in January cut his campaign short. Rather than head back to his parent club to recover, he stayed put and did his rehabilitation at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

"It was no secret that he decided to have his rehabilitation done here for the remainder of last season when he didn't have to do that," Kinnear said. "The most important thing is he's back. He had a very serious injury, he's worked really hard to get back from that."

But Kinnear was careful not to overstep. "He's a player who's fallen in love with the right shade of blue, but ultimately he's a Manchester City player at the moment and we need to respect that."

Back in Sky Blue

That respect was on display in Cardiff on Sunday, when Grealish pulled on the sky blue shirt for the first time since his temporary exit. Introduced at half-time of the Community Shield, he walked into a game that was already drifting away from City, 2-0 down to Arsenal and heading for a 3-0 defeat.

Enzo Maresca, the City manager, offered a measured assessment. "Jack was inside when we were 2-0 down so the game already became complicated after that, but overall I think Jack was good."

The Italian, though, was not about to make promises. "The ones that are still here and want to work every day and if they deserve it, they're going to get minutes," he said. "At the moment, the transfer window is open, and we'll see what happens."

That window shuts on September 1. With a fortnight of it still to run, the decision on Grealish's future rests with Maresca and no one else.

A Career in the Balance

It has been quite a journey since Grealish arrived from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021 for a British record £100 million. In 158 appearances for City he has won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup, scoring 17 goals along the way. At 30, with his contract in east Manchester due to expire next summer, this feels like a pivotal moment.

Kinnear's comments suggest Everton would gladly have him back. Whether City are willing to let him go — and on what terms — is another matter entirely. For now, the ball is in Maresca's court, and the clock is ticking.

Manchester City's midfield is being reshaped at a rate that would make even the most seasoned transfer watcher blink. The departures of Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Tijjani Reijnders have left a significant void, and the club's recruitment team, led by sporting director Hugo Viana, is working overtime to fill it.

This week alone, two midfielders have left for a combined fee of around £110 million. Reijnders has moved to Al Qadsiah, while Newcastle United are in talks over a potential move for Nico Gonzalez, with the Tyneside club evaluating a swoop before the September 1 deadline.

Kone in the Frame

Now, AS Roma and France international Manu Kone has been identified as a potential signing. The 25-year-old, who has spent the past two years in Serie A, featured five times for France during the recent World Cup in North America. He has scored four goals in 63 appearances for Roma and carries an asking price of £51 million.

That figure is a very similar price to the one Al Qadsiah paid City to sign Reijnders this week—a neat piece of financial symmetry as the club looks to reinvest.

More Deals in the Pipeline

City are also expected to complete a big-money move for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi within the coming days. Meanwhile, interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez persists, though an internal deadline at Stamford Bridge involving a £120 million 'release clause' passed without a formal bid from City. Fernandez is believed to personally want to link back up with Enzo Maresca.

Elsewhere, there has been widespread reporting of advanced talks between Tottenham Hotspur and City over a potential double transfer for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, a deal likely to be worth a combined total north of £140 million. If that comes off, it would represent a significant statement of intent—or a curious one, depending on your view of selling two attacking talents to a direct rival.

All this comes as City prepare to kick off their new era under Maresca against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, with Elliot Anderson having already arrived in a £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest. The squad is changing fast. The question is whether it will be stronger by the time the window slams shut.

Manchester City have added AS Roma's Manu Kone to their list of midfield targets, according to Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail. The French international would cost around £51 million, with Roma having set that asking price.

Kone typically operates as a number six for the Serie A side, though he can also do a job as a number eight. He played a similar role for France at the 2026 World Cup.

The 24-year-old is physically strong, an attribute that would serve him well in the Premier League. He's also a quality ball carrier and covers the pitch extremely well, skills that would fit Enzo Maresca's setup. In possession, he's adept at linking the build-up between defence and midfield and the attacking areas.

There is, however, a caveat. Kone needs to improve his ability to win duels, something that would be tested week in, week out in England.

Midfield Jigsaw

Kone is not the only name on City's radar. The club remain hopeful of concluding a deal for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, while they also retain an interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. That interest, though, has its limits — City have no intention of paying Chelsea's £120 million asking price for the Argentine.

The pursuit of a new midfielder makes sense given the current state of Maresca's options. Nico Gonzalez showed during the first half of the 2025-26 season that he can play as a number six for City, but he has since fallen out of favour. Tellingly, Mateo Kovacic has been preferred to the Spaniard in midfield.

Whether Kone, Bouaddi, or someone else entirely arrives before the window shuts remains to be seen. But the picture is slowly coming into view.

Tottenham's long pursuit of Savinho appears to be reaching its decisive stage, with reports now suggesting the north London club are preparing to make it a double raid on the Etihad.

David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that Spurs are working on a deal to bring both Savinho and Omar Marmoush to the capital in the final fortnight of the transfer window. Nothing is finalised between the clubs as yet, but talks are said to be advancing.

A Familiar Face in a New Light

Savinho's name has been doing the rounds at Spurs for over a year now. The London club first came calling during the same window last summer, only to see City reject an offer in the region of £70m. The Brazilian then committed his future to the Etihad, signing a contract extension until the summer of 2031, with Ferran Soriano determined to keep hold of him.

That piece of paper, however, may not tell the whole story.

The wider belief is that Savinho has remained open to a move away. After a difficult campaign under Pep Guardiola last season, the 22-year-old has set his sights on linking up with Roberto De Zerbi at Spurs, and is understood to have made City aware of his interest in moving south.

Now, with Marmoush also in the frame, City could be about to lose two forwards in one fell swoop.

"Tottenham are working on a deal to sign both Savinho and Omar Marmoush from Manchester City in the final fortnight of the transfer window."

Ornstein's report stops short of declaring the deals done, but the direction of travel is clear enough. For a club that usually does its business quietly and efficiently, this would represent a significant departure — and a considerable hole in the attacking ranks.

If Tottenham thought they were getting a bargain, the numbers say otherwise. City have made their position clear: Savinho goes nowhere unless someone meets a €100m (£86m) valuation.

The figure, reported by FootballTransfers on Wednesday, is hardly a surprise. The 22-year-old Brazilian winger has been the subject of Spurs' interest for weeks, and City have never been inclined to sell on the cheap.

The Times had it at around £85m in total, a jump from the £60m-plus package first mooted back in July. That earlier deal, with add-ons attached, came after Savinho indicated he wanted to leave the Etihad. Circumstances may change, but the price has only gone up.

Should Spurs actually stump up the cash, City already have a replacement in mind. Pedro Neto has emerged as a candidate, though Chelsea's valuation of the Portugal international is said to be close to £100m. So much for a bargain replacement.

City have never been inclined to sell on the cheap.

For now, the ball sits firmly in Tottenham's court. They wanted the player, they know the fee, and they know City will not be talked down. Whether they pay it is another matter entirely.

City's summer midfield surgery is getting busy. With Rodri's departure to Barcelona confirmed on Tuesday in a deal that could reach €76m (£65m), the Blues have moved quickly to address the gap in the centre of the pitch.

Italian journalist Nicolo Schira reports that talks have opened with Bournemouth over England Under-21 international Alex Scott, a 2003-born midfielder who is also wanted by Chelsea. Whether that interest is reciprocated, or whether the Cherries are willing to do business, remains to be seen.

Scott would not be the only new face in the engine room. Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to arrive imminently, with personal terms already agreed and talks with the French club set to advance in the coming hours.

"Bouaddi is expected to go to Manchester City very soon."

That deal would go some way to softening the blow of losing the Ballon d'Or winner, but City are still casting around for another midfielder. Enzo Maresca is reportedly keen to bring Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez with him to the Etihad, though that one is complicated.

City missed the 5pm deadline Chelsea set for bids on Friday, and there is no longer a verbal agreement on the exit. Yet Fabrizio Romano suggests the Blues are not done. "Manchester City are still thinking of Enzo Fernandez in midfield," he said on his YouTube channel, adding that the club remain in contact with the player's agent.

Chelsea, for their part, are playing hardball. Their message is clear: "We are in control. We decide. And we will be happy to keep him."

Whether that stance softens before the window closes is another matter. City will test the waters, according to Romano, but they may find the water rather cold.

The summer exodus at the Etihad shows no sign of slowing. With Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and now Tijjani Reijnders all heading for the exit, Enzo Maresca is suddenly looking at a midfield bare of options.

Nico Gonzalez's future is also up in the air, with David Ornstein reporting that Newcastle United are exploring a move for the Spanish midfielder. If he goes, City's engine room looks dangerously thin.

Help could come from an unexpected source: Nico O'Reilly. The academy graduate made his name last season at left-back, but his history suggests he could be the answer in the middle of the park.

A Return to His Roots?

O'Reilly spent his entire academy career in midfield before being deployed at left-back, where he enjoyed a breakout 2025-26 campaign. He also filled in midfield on several occasions under Pep Guardiola last term.

With Josko Gvardiol and Rayan Ait-Nouri both capable of playing left-back, moving O'Reilly into midfield would give City a stronger mix in the centre of the pitch. It might also solve a problem that has been building all summer.

City begin their Premier League campaign this Sunday against Bournemouth at the Etihad. Elliot Anderson looks a certain starter, and Mateo Kovacic has started all four preseason matches, but beyond that, the midfield picture is far from clear.

There is a school of thought that says you learn nothing about a goalkeeper until he is properly tested. If that is true, then Pierce Charles has already learned a great deal in the space of a fortnight.

The 21-year-old, signed from Sheffield Wednesday early in the summer window and loaned straight out to QPR, has now produced two commanding displays in the Championship. The second of those came at Fratton Park, where Charles made five saves in a 3-1 victory over Portsmouth.

It was not all plain sailing. At one point he gave the ball away in a dangerous area, the kind of moment that makes a young keeper's heart sink. His response was telling: a smart double save to atone for the error. That is the sort of resilience that tends to separate the keepers who make it from the ones who don't.

From Hillsborough to Loftus Road

Charles arrived at City with a reputation forged in difficult circumstances at Sheffield Wednesday. His performances there earned him the move back to Manchester, and the club clearly saw no reason to rush him. The Championship is a demanding schooling, and QPR is proving a useful classroom.

His QPR debut came in less glamorous surroundings: a penalty shootout defeat to Millwall in the first round of the Carabao Cup, the tie finishing 1-1 before the Hoops came up short from the spot. It was a loss, but it handed Charles his first competitive minutes. Saturday's win at Portsmouth, his second start of the season, suggested he has settled rather quickly.

It is early days, of course. Two starts do not make a career, and the Championship has a way of humbling young players. But the early signs are that City may have found themselves a keeper of the future. For a club that has spent heavily on the position in recent years, the sight of a homegrown option developing on loan is a welcome one.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is arguably the finest shot-stopper in world football. He is also, after a season at the Etihad, a player who still leaves a nagging doubt in the minds of many supporters.

That is the strange position City find themselves in. Their number one is a goalkeeper who won them points with a string of important saves throughout 2025-26, yet the feeling persists that he is not quite the right fit for this side. The puzzle, as the summer window closes, remains unsolved.

James Trafford has gone to Leeds United. Gerónimo Rulli has arrived as the backup. The pecking order is clear. What is less clear is how Donnarumma's game is squared with the demands of an Enzo Maresca side.

Feet first

The most obvious area for improvement is his work with the ball at his feet. In this system, the goalkeeper is central to buildup, and while Donnarumma is serviceable in possession, he can look hesitant, sometimes nervous.

Arsenal tested exactly that in the FA Community Shield. They varied their press, and at times stood off the Italian, forcing him to make the decision rather than taking it from him. He handled it slightly better at the Principality Stadium, but the questions remain.

Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail has reported that Maresca is devising solutions. One tweak trialled already is building up with three defenders instead of two, giving Donnarumma an extra option and, presumably, a little more time.

Set-piece concerns

The other area demanding attention is his handling of set-pieces, which have become crucial in the Premier League. For all his brilliance as a shot-stopper, this is where the doubts creep in.

It is a curious situation. City have a goalkeeper with world-class reflexes, but the other parts of the job need work. Maresca's challenge is to smooth those rough edges without dulling what makes Donnarumma special.

Elliot Anderson's first 60 minutes in a Manchester City shirt came in the least forgiving of settings — a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. The scoreline offered little comfort, but for those watching closely, the England international's performance provided a quiet nod towards what the club has in mind for him.

City have long been planning for the departure of Rodri, a void that looms large over the squad. The club's answer, it appears, is Anderson — earmarked for the number six role, a position he has the raw attributes to make his own.

Anderson's game is built on relentless ground coverage, a trait that has drawn comparisons with Moisés Caicedo. In Enzo Maresca's Chelsea setup, Caicedo operated as the number six in a double pivot, and Anderson shares similar physical and defensive qualities. The difference, though, is what he offers going forward. In possession, the former Newcastle man is considered the more dangerous of the two.

It is a profile that suggests City see him as more than just a like-for-like Rodri stand-in. He has the potential to be a quality number six in his own right, not merely a placeholder.

Anderson showed enough good signs in that Wembley run-out to justify the faith being placed in him.

Meanwhile, the club's midfield rebuild is taking shape on another front. City are closing in on Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi, with an £85 million deal hoped to be concluded in the coming days. The Moroccan international prefers to play as a holding midfielder, yet he is not viewed as Rodri's replacement — that distinction belongs to Anderson.

Two arrivals, two distinct roles. One to fill the void, another to complement it.

The Community Shield defeat to Arsenal was a sobering afternoon, but the real story of City's summer is being written elsewhere. With Bernardo Silva gone and Rodri expected to follow him to Barcelona, the midfield that defined an era is being dismantled piece by piece.

That explains the persistent links to Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, a player who divides opinion like few others. Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas and Kaveh Solhekol report City remain keen despite Chelsea's self-imposed deadline having passed. The interest, it seems, is not going away quietly.

Why Fernandez fits

Fernandez has captained Chelsea, which tells you something about his standing even if his time at Stamford Bridge has rarely been straightforward. For a City side about to enter a season without two of its most influential midfielders, the appeal is obvious.

Mateo Kovacic brings experience, but he cannot do it alone. Elliot Anderson has been at the club less than a week and, while he looks like he will grow into a leader in this midfield, he needs time to adjust. Phil Foden has leadership aspirations of his own, yet his best work remains further forward. Nico Gonzalez, for all his promise, remains on the periphery of the starting eleven. Ayyoub Bouaddi is likely another name to join the rebuild.

None of that is a criticism. It is a description of a squad in flux.

Fernandez would not be a like-for-like replacement for either Silva or Rodri. He is his own player, with his own baggage. But if City are serious about reshaping this midfield quickly, he offers something the current options do not: proven Premier League pedigree and a captain's armband already worn.

Whether Chelsea actually sell is another matter entirely.

There was a certain inevitability about it. Once Rodri made his feelings known, the game was up. Manchester City have accepted an offer for the midfielder, with the 30-year-old now closing in on a move to Barcelona.

The fee, believed to be in the region of £65million, represents a significant return for a player who has been the heartbeat of this side. But make no mistake, this is not a sale City wanted to make.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, speaking to Football Insider, painted a picture of a club left with little room for manoeuvre. Rodri, he said, made it clear to the hierarchy that he expected to leave this summer. When a player of that stature digs his heels in, there is only so much a club can do.

"They were left powerless to keep the midfielder, and opted to cash in for the highest fee they could command after Barcelona made a move."

World Cup Glory and a Change of Heart

It has been a whirlwind few months. Rodri was back to his brilliant best in the United States, Mexico and Canada, lifting the Player of the Tournament award as Spain claimed their second World Cup. That form only heightened interest, and Brown revealed last month that City had been braced for offers ever since.

Real Madrid pulled out of the race early on, which only made things clearer. Barcelona, it seemed, was always the destination. Since the World Cup ended, it has been an open secret that Rodri fancied a return to Spain, and the Catalan club were his preferred choice.

City, to their credit, have facilitated the move rather than dig in. They had planned for Rodri to remain a key figure under Enzo Maresca, who wanted him in his plans for the season. But as Brown noted, that was never really a possibility once the player had made up his mind.

Now What?

The focus now shifts to finding a replacement. Elliot Anderson arrived earlier in the window, but a new midfield addition has become a priority. This is a gap that cannot be filled by half-measures.

Rodri has been a mainstay of this side, barring that lengthy injury absence, and a crucial part of the recent success. Losing him is a blow, no matter how it is dressed up. The contract talks that dragged on for months came to nothing, and now all parties are prepared for the move to be completed.

City are left to look at other options. The search begins now.

Manchester City's pursuit of Pedro Neto has taken a curious turn, with Chelsea reportedly slapping a £100m asking price on the Portuguese winger. The Daily Mail's claim that the London club want to nearly double the fee they paid Wolves for the 26-year-old a couple of years back has raised eyebrows across the Premier League.

It is a figure that feels steep for a player who has struggled for consistency since his move to Stamford Bridge. Yet Chelsea's stance is clear: if City want Neto, they will have to pay through the nose.

Three-Way Race Emerges

The race for Neto is no longer a two-horse affair. Al-Hilal have entered the fray, joining both City and Tottenham in the hunt for the winger's signature. The Saudi side's interest adds another layer of complication to an already tangled transfer saga.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed last week that City have made contact with Neto's agent, signalling genuine intent from the Blues. But that intent may count for little if the financial demands prove prohibitive.

Savinho's Exit Holds the Key

There is, however, a significant stumbling block before any approach for Neto can be formalised. City's move for a winger is entirely dependent on Savinho leaving the club first, with the Brazilian reportedly pushing for a move to Tottenham.

Despite weeks of negotiations, no agreement has been reached on the fee for Savinho. Until that situation resolves itself, City's hands remain tied in their pursuit of Neto.

The coming days will be telling. Whether Chelsea soften their stance or City look elsewhere, one thing is certain: this saga is far from over.

When a player is being talked about in the same breath as N'Golo Kante, Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets, it is fair to say expectations rise. That is the company Ayyoub Bouaddi now keeps, at least in the eyes of his Lille teammate Olivier Giroud.

Speaking to the BBC, the former Arsenal and Chelsea striker offered a detailed assessment of the 18-year-old, who is reportedly on City's radar. Giroud, who has shared a dressing room with Bouaddi for just over a year, was quick to point out the teenager's composure.

He's calm, confident, staying himself! I was talking with some friends, and they sent some pictures: Patrick Vieira and Sergio Busquets. They said he's a mix of both!

Giroud does not quite see Bouaddi as the finished article just yet. He concedes the youngster is not yet on Busquets' level technically, though he clearly has tools to work with. And while he might lack Vieira's raw power for now, Giroud expects that to come with time.

The one area where Bouaddi needs work, according to Giroud, is in front of goal. Finishing and a more aggressive edge in the final third are the improvements required, something the Lille camp have apparently been teasing him about all season.

That Giroud is well placed to make such comparisons goes without saying. He played alongside Kante at Chelsea and for France, giving him a direct reference point when he says Bouaddi is "a bit like N'Golo" in the way he covers ground.

Pressure and Price Tag

All of which paints a picture of a player with a big future. But the here and now is rather more complicated. Lille's asking price stands at a hefty €100m (£85.5m), and there are concerns that such a figure could weigh heavily on young shoulders.

Should the move to the Etihad go through, Bouaddi would be expected to hit the ground running. Those are big boots to fill, and the pressure would be immediate, particularly after the 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal left head coach Enzo Maresca keen to add fresh faces before the window closes.

Whether City meet that asking price remains to be seen. What is clear is that Bouaddi has admirers in high places, and one of them has seen enough up close to believe the hype.

City have been back in touch with Chelsea over Malo Gusto, with Enzo Maresca still keen to add to his squad before the window shuts. Transfer journalist Graeme Bailey reports the Blues have made another approach for the France international, who has been on their radar all summer.

It is not the first time the two clubs have crossed paths over the 23-year-old. Earlier in the window, ReadManCity reported that City were unwilling to meet Chelsea's £75m asking price, leaving the sides some way apart. That gap appears to have narrowed, or at least the conversation has reopened.

Bailey also suggests City have not given up on Enzo Fernández, even though Chelsea insisted last week they would not let the midfielder go after their deadline for a £120m deal passed. Whether that is posturing or a genuine opening remains unclear, but City's interest is apparently still alive.

Meanwhile, the situation around Pedro Neto has moved quickly. The Portugal winger remains on City's list, but Al-Hilal are now in direct talks over a move, with reports over the weekend claiming Neto has already agreed personal terms with the Saudi club. Chelsea would still need to agree a fee before any deal goes through.

For now, City's pursuit of Gusto looks the most likely to yield something concrete. The right-back has long been admired at the Etihad, and Maresca's desire for reinforcements in that area is no secret. Whether Chelsea soften their stance remains to be seen, but the fact City have gone back in suggests they believe a deal is possible.

City's return to competitive action ended in a 3-0 reverse against Arsenal in the Community Shield, a result that will sting less for the scoreline itself than for the manner in which it unravelled. Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard all found the net for the Premier League champions, who collected an eighth Community Shield with an efficiency that suggested pre-season rust is not a problem they share.

The Blues, by contrast, looked every bit a side still finding its feet.

[ratings:38753456-9b24-419e-b0c5-303119564f31]

Goalkeeping questions refuse to go away

The decision to stick with Gianluigi Donnarumma as the club's preferred goalkeeper, rather than hand the role to James Trafford before his £45m move to Leeds United, invites scrutiny after an afternoon the Italian will want to forget. He was at fault for all three goals: reacting too quickly for the first, palming the ball over his own line for the second after an initial save, and then being wrong-footed by Odegaard's feint for the third.

It was the kind of display that makes you wonder what the recruitment team saw in pre-season that the rest of us missed.

Grealish makes his case, however quietly

Jack Grealish, once Britain's most expensive player, has spent the summer being loaned out in search of regular football. Maresca handed him the entire second half in place of Jeremy Doku, and the response was quietly encouraging: an 88% pass completion rate, two crosses and two key passes. It was not a performance that screams "undroppable", but it was a reminder that the talent has not evaporated entirely.

Whether it changes his immediate future remains to be seen.

Haaland's quiet return

Erling Haaland made his first appearance of the summer after missing pre-season, and it showed. Seven touches in 53 minutes is a remarkably low number for a striker of his calibre, though he did force David Raya into a save in the first half. The sharpness will come; the concern is whether the service will match it.

Phil Foden, overlooked for England's World Cup squad, at least looked busy: one missed pass in 34 attempts, two crosses and four recoveries. Small consolations on an afternoon when the bigger picture felt rather bleak.

Manchester City's midfield overhaul is accelerating, with the club seemingly undeterred by Chelsea's hardball tactics over Enzo Fernandez. Despite a deadline passing without a bid, the Blues are expected to return for the Argentine.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has suggested that City are likely to try again for Fernandez, even though Chelsea set a 5pm cutoff last Friday for offers. With that window now shut, any prospective deal would require direct negotiation with the London club.

Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, was clear that City have not abandoned their interest. "Manchester City are still thinking of Enzo Fernandez," he said, adding that the club are "not giving up" on the midfielder despite the missed deadline.

The situation has shifted, though. There is no longer a verbal agreement in place for the player's exit. It is now Chelsea who hold the cards, deciding whether to sell and at what price. Romano noted that Chelsea's message remains firm: "We are in control. We decide. And we will be happy to keep him."

Yet City are not going away. They remain in contact with the player's agent, keeping the lines open as they assess their options.

The urgency is understandable. City are set to lose Rodri to Barcelona, with the Spain international expected to complete a move to the Catalan giants. Romano reports that Rodri will be in Barcelona next week, with all paperwork being prepared. The deal, he says, is effectively done.

Rodri's decision to join Barcelona was made around ten days ago, according to Romano. Barcelona entered the negotiations strongly, and personal terms were agreed. The contract, salary, and paperwork are all in place.

There was late interest from Real Madrid, but only after the World Cup did Florentino Perez give the green light for a move. Initially, Perez was not keen on Rodri being used as a pawn in the presidential election campaign of Enrique Riquelme. By then, however, Rodri had already made up his mind.

To fill the void, City are closing in on Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi. Reliable journalist Ben Jacobs reported that terms are already in place for the Moroccan midfielder. Romano expects City to finalise the deal shortly, with personal terms agreed and progress expected with Lille imminently.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are undergoing their own changes. Benoit Badiashile is set to join Napoli on loan, with a medical scheduled in Rome. The deal includes a buy option set at €27 million.

For City, the priority is clear: secure Bouaddi and keep pushing for Fernandez. The midfield is being reshaped, and the next few days could prove pivotal.

Enzo Maresca's reign as Manchester City manager began not with a bang, but with the sort of afternoon that leaves a manager staring at the dressing room ceiling. Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners in Sunday's Community Shield, and the scoreline flattered nobody in blue.

Riccardo Calafiori needed less than 30 seconds to open the scoring. By midway through the first half, Kai Havertz had doubled the lead, and Martin Odegaard added a third after the break. City were outclassed on the day, plain and simple.

[ratings:38753456-9b24-419e-b0c5-303119564f31]

Yet context matters. This was the first match of the season, and the first time the first-team stars had been reunited in nearly three months. Pre-season rust was always going to show against a side as sharp as Arsenal.

Player ratings: The good, the bad, and the concerning

If there was a bright spot, it came at the back. Abdukodir Khusanov was City's best defender, racking up nine defensive contributions and winning all nine of his duels. Ruben Dias was dominant in the air, snuffing out Arsenal's set-piece threats and distributing with elan. Josko Gvardiol's better moments came going forward, including a header that drifted narrowly wide.

In midfield, Mateo Kovacic showed composure and threaded a few vertical passes, but couldn't influence the game as Arsenal cruised. Elliot Anderson's debut after his big-money move couldn't have gone much worse, though he did deliver six crosses before being hooked at the hour mark.

Further forward, Antoine Semenyo took the game to Arsenal with his direct running, attempting three shots and providing six crosses. Phil Foden was the liveliest of City's attackers early on, driving forward with poise and purpose. Jeremy Doku had a good chance after City fell 2-0 behind but couldn't convert, and looked subdued for much of the afternoon.

Haaland's forgettable return

Erling Haaland played his first game since the World Cup, but it was a return to forget. The Norwegian was well below his best, with his only effort saved by David Raya.

Gianluigi Donnarumma had a day to forget too. The goalkeeper's reactions were poor for all three goals — a disappointing display from a player capable of so much more.

Nico O'Reilly got forward well but was found wanting defensively, with Arsenal repeatedly overloading his side of the pitch to build attacks.

It was a whimper rather than a wham for Maresca. But with the season proper still to come, there's time to turn the noise up.

Manchester City head into the new Premier League season with a problem most clubs would love to have. Two elite options for the number ten role, both with compelling cases, and only one shirt available against Bournemouth at the Etihad on Sunday.

Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki have spent the summer making their respective pitches. Foden, who signed a contract extension earlier this summer, has had the run of things in preseason. He started all three friendlies in the role, and again in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.

[ratings:38753456-9b24-419e-b0c5-303119564f31]

Cherki, by contrast, is playing catch-up. He only returned to City last Wednesday after a frustrating World Cup with France, where he spent most of the tournament on the periphery of Didier Deschamps' squad. His first competitive action of the summer came as a 60th-minute substitute against Arsenal.

Patchy Form and a Point to Prove

Foden's case is built on continuity rather than brilliance. His form across the friendlies and the Community Shield has been patchy, and he is coming off a difficult 2024-25 season that tailed off after a bright start to 2025-26. Missing out on England's World Cup squad would have stung.

Yet he has a full preseason behind him, something Cherki cannot claim. That alone might be enough to earn Foden the nod against Bournemouth.

A Cameo That Caught the Eye

Cherki's brief appearance against Arsenal offered a glimpse of what he brings. He completed 29 of his 33 passes and created two chances. One saw Antoine Semenyo have a shot saved by David Raya; the other was a dangerous low cross across the six-yard box that was just behind Semenyo.

It was a cameo that suggested he is ready, even if his preparation has been fractured.

The Verdict

If the choice were made purely on preseason minutes, Foden starts on Sunday. If it were made on the sharpness of Cherki's cameo, the debate gets interesting. As things stand, Foden looks the favourite to begin the 2026-27 season in the role.

But with Cherki now fully back in the fold, the competition is only just beginning.

There is no sugar-coating a 3-0 defeat, particularly not when the damage is done inside the opening minute. Arsenal arrived in Cardiff with a point to prove and left with the Community Shield, having dismantled City in a manner that will concern Enzo Maresca more than the scoreline itself suggests.

The tone was set before most supporters had settled into their seats. Riccardo Calafiori, released by Myles Lewis-Skelley's piercing through ball, raced onto the pass and produced a composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma. Twenty-five seconds. That is how long it took for the afternoon to take its shape.

[ratings:38753456-9b24-419e-b0c5-303119564f31]

Individual errors prove costly

City's pre-season has been about building rhythm and sharpness. What unfolded at the Principality Stadium exposed how far off that level they currently sit. Phil Foden and Mateo Kovacic were both culpable, surrendering possession in dangerous areas and inviting Arsenal counterattacks that punished a defence still finding its feet.

There were flashes of intent. Elliot Anderson, handed his City debut, delivered a superb right-wing cross in the 18th minute that was just too far ahead of Erling Haaland. Foden then curled a low drive towards the far post, forcing David Raya into a smart save. But these were isolated moments rather than sustained pressure.

Haaland denied by Raya and the officials

City's clearest opening came when Nico O'Reilly won back possession on the left and teed up Haaland. Raya denied the Norwegian at the near post, though the effort was ultimately ruled out with O'Reilly adjudged to have pushed his marker in winning the ball back. Jeremy Doku also slipped Haaland in behind in the 36th minute, only for the striker to fire high and wide from a promising position.

Raya was proving stubborn. He made a strong save to deny Haaland again in the 39th minute, then somehow kept out a double effort to preserve Arsenal's lead. At the other end, Donnarumma's afternoon was less convincing.

Defensive lapses prove decisive

Arsenal doubled their lead in the 28th minute when Martin Ødegaard's floated cross found Christos Tzolis at the back post. Abdukodir Khusanov was unaware of the winger's run, and Tzolis headed back across goal for Kai Havertz to convert from close range. Donnarumma got a hand to the header but could not keep it out, the ball squirming under him.

Just before the break, Josko Gvardiol was forced to clear an Ødegaard effort off the line. It was a brief reprieve. Three minutes into the second half, Ødegaard made it 3-0, beating Donnarumma with ease to put the contest beyond doubt.

Grealish handed a chance to rebuild

Maresca turned to Jack Grealish at halftime, replacing Doku in a bid to change the dynamic. After spending last season on loan at Everton, Grealish appears to have been offered a lifeline by the City boss. Whether this performance changes that outlook remains to be seen.

There were late attempts to restore some pride. Rayan Cherki forced another good save from Raya in the 72nd minute with a low drive from 25 yards, while Bukayo Saka almost made it 4-0 before the end, firing over from eight yards after Piero Hincapié's excellent delivery.

The scoreline was no more than Arsenal deserved. City, by contrast, will file this one away as a pre-season lesson delivered the hard way. The real tests begin when the Premier League season kicks off, but Maresca will know this side are not yet ready for them.

Friday's 5pm cutoff came and went without Manchester City submitting a formal bid for Enzo Fernandez. Yet according to Fabrizio Romano, the Blues are refusing to hang up.

City, we're told, are still making calls to see if there is any way of reviving a move that looked all but done earlier in the summer. The £120m asking price stood until that deadline, a figure reportedly agreed verbally between all parties back in May. With that window now shut, any fresh approach requires actual negotiation — and Chelsea, as you might expect, hold every card.

"Man City are still calling. Man City are still trying to understand if there is a way."

Romano stops short of declaring the deal dead. As of today, he wouldn't call it off. That's about as close to optimism as this saga has offered in weeks.

Waiting on Rodri

The reason no bid landed before Chelsea's deadline is fairly straightforward. It is felt within the club that Rodri's move to Barcelona needs to be completed before any offer is submitted for the Argentine. One in, one out — the policy reportedly governing midfield recruitment under Enzo Maresca's side.

Tijjani Reijnders' departure for Al Qadsiah is expected to open the door for Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi. That's the incoming side of the ledger sorted, more or less. The Fernandez question sits on the other side, waiting for Rodri's exit to formally unlock it.

Sources close to Stamford Bridge, meanwhile, reckon the Argentinian will stay put. They may well be right. But if City table a proposal before September 1st that matches the original asking price, Chelsea will have a genuine decision to make.

Whether that happens depends on how quickly the Rodri deal gets over the line. City are still calling. They're just not quite ready to commit.

Pedro Neto, it appears, will not be gracing the Premier League next season. The Chelsea winger has reportedly agreed personal terms with Al Hilal, ending the hopes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham in one fell swoop.

The 26-year-old has been the subject of considerable transfer chatter this summer, with the Blues open to offers after a two-year spell at Stamford Bridge that brought more than 100 appearances. City's new boss Enzo Maresca was said to be particularly keen on a reunion with a player he knows well from his time at Chelsea, but it seems the Portuguese international has other ideas.

Sky Switzerland report that Neto is set to link up with his Portugal teammates Ruben Neves and Joao Cancelo at the Saudi Pro League outfit. Al Hilal are reportedly prepared to pay around €60m (£51m) to secure his signature, a figure that would see Chelsea recoup close to what they shelled out for him in 2024.

That £54m fee to Wolves now looks like decent business, even if the Blues initially wanted £70m for Neto this summer. They have since softened that stance, and a £50m-plus return would at least balance the books as they look to offset the £117m spent on Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. Rogers, for what it's worth, scored his first Chelsea goal in Saturday's 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad.

That game was not without its own drama. Enzo Fernandez, a target for Real Madrid and City, was booed by a section of Chelsea fans after coming off the bench. A curious way to treat a player who may yet be part of their plans.

For Arsenal, the Neto chase was born of necessity. Their failure to lure Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, combined with Leandro Trossard's departure and Gabriel Martinelli's expected exit, has left them short in wide areas. Roberto De Zerbi is reportedly an admirer of Neto, but the Italian's interest is now moot.

Tottenham, heavily linked with Neto when he joined Chelsea two years ago, have also missed out. Again.

City, meanwhile, move on. Maresca's squad has other options, and the summer is still young. But for a player who might have added genuine width and directness to the attacking line, this one is a quiet miss.

Chelsea now turn their attention to the season ahead, starting at Fulham on August 24, before a Carabao Cup tie with Luton Town three days later. Neto, presumably, will be watching from afar.

There is something quietly significant about the first competitive match of a season, even when it arrives in early August with the taste of a Cardiff summer still in the air. Manchester City's 2026-27 campaign begins this afternoon at the Principality Stadium, where the FA Cup holders meet last season's Premier League champions. Arsenal, as ever, will provide a proper test.

For Enzo Maresca, this is not merely a curtain-raiser. He has spoken of it as the first opportunity for his team to claim silverware, and there is no reason to doubt that. A trophy is a trophy, even if the Community Shield tends to sit somewhere between a genuine prize and a glorified friendly. City's manager will want it.

Team news, as ever, offers a few talking points. Only Rodri is definitely out, the Spanish midfielder having undergone minor back surgery after the World Cup. He has not returned to training, and given the persistent noise around a possible move to Barcelona, there is a genuine question over whether he will ever pull on a City shirt again. It is a strange situation, and one that refuses to go away.

Elsewhere, Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho look unlikely to feature. Reijnders is on the verge of a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah, so his absence from the squad is no great surprise. Savinho, meanwhile, missed Thursday's open training session, reportedly unwell, and has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham. Whether he is involved this afternoon remains to be seen.

Erling Haaland sat out the closing stages of Thursday's session, though Maresca was quick to describe it as precautionary. After a busy summer with Norway, the sensible play might be to start him on the bench. Then again, Haaland does not tend to do sensible when there is a goal to be had.

Ryan McAidoo missed City's final two preseason friendlies in Asia with a shoulder injury. Whether he plays any part today is uncertain.

It promises to be an intriguing afternoon in Cardiff. First silverware of the season, a few selection headaches, and the usual early-season uncertainty. What better way to get going?

Twelve months is a short time in football, but it's been long enough for Tijjani Reijnders' City career to come full circle. The Dutch international is on the brink of a £52million switch to Al Qadsiah, with negotiations in their advanced stages.

It brings a curiously swift end to a project that began with such promise.

When Reijnders arrived from AC Milan in the summer of 2025, he was widely viewed as the natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne, who had just departed for Napoli. Ilkay Gundogan had also moved on, to Galatasaray, leaving a creative vacuum that the 28-year-old was expected to fill.

That he didn't quite manage it isn't for want of trying. Reijnders contributed 15 goals across all competitions last season, a respectable return even if it never quite matched the billing.

Now, with a near-£6million profit on the horizon — City paid £46million for him a year ago — the club appears content to cash in rather than persist. The Saudi Pro League's growing pull, accelerated since Cristiano Ronaldo's move to Al Nassr in 2022, has made such exits increasingly straightforward.

Anderson's path clears

The more interesting consequence might be closer to home. Elliot Anderson, the club-record signing from Nottingham Forest, suddenly finds himself with a clearer route to the first team.

With Bernardo Silva leaving and Rodri also edging towards the exit, the competition for midfield places has thinned considerably. Anderson won't have to fight quite so hard for either attention or a starting spot.

It hands Enzo Maresca a genuine opportunity to build his midfield around the young Scot, who could become one of the cornerstones of this ongoing City project. Whether that's the plan or merely a happy accident of the transfer window, it's a situation that suits all parties.

For Reijnders, the Saudi adventure beckons. For City, the books balance and the squad gets younger. Football, as ever, moves quickly.

Everton have put a price on Iliman Ndiaye's head, and it is a hefty one. Reports suggest £80m would be enough to prise the Senegalese forward away from Goodison Park this summer, with City, United and Arsenal all monitoring the situation.

For all the noise, Ndiaye is not top of anyone's list just yet. The 26-year-old sits somewhere in the background, a name being kept warm should other deals fall through. That could change before the window slams shut, though.

A reluctant seller's market

Everton are not exactly in a position of strength. Ndiaye has already knocked back a move to Al-Hilal because he wants to stay in the Premier League, and he has refused to sign a new contract. That has stirred the pot, even if he still has just under three years left on his current deal.

The Toffees are asking for a significant sum for a player who has made it clear he fancies a move. Whether anyone bites at that number remains to be seen.

City's own forward shuffle

For City, the interest in Ndiaye is tied to what happens with Jack Grealish and Savinho. Both could be on their way out, which would leave Enzo Maresca short of bodies out wide.

Grealish spent last season on loan at Everton, and David Moyes is keen to have him back. The Toffees have not returned to the negotiating table so far this summer, though, so that one is in limbo.

Savinho looks the more likely to leave. The Brazilian has reportedly asked for a transfer, and Tottenham are in talks to sign him, but they have yet to match the £85m asking price.

If both depart, an approach for Ndiaye becomes a real possibility. There are no guarantees at this stage, but the pieces are on the board.

Elliot Anderson's first competitive appearance for Manchester City comes with a hefty price tag and an even heftier pair of boots to fill. The 23-year-old England international arrived from Nottingham Forest for a club-record £116 million, and tomorrow he walks out at Wembley for the Community Shield against Arsenal.

Enzo Maresca, taking charge of his first official game as City manager, has no doubts about his new signing. "He will make a positive impact," the Italian said, backing Anderson to thrive despite the obvious comparisons to the man he replaces.

Bernardo Silva's departure to Real Madrid left a creative hole in midfield, and Anderson is the man tasked with filling it. The styles differ — Silva's was all subtlety and control, while Anderson brings combative energy, physical dominance and a knack for winning duels. That, insists Maresca, is exactly why he plans to use Anderson in a way that gets the best out of him.

It has been a long road to this point. Anderson spent nine years in Newcastle United's academy before breaking into the senior side in 2019. Two years later he moved to Nottingham Forest, where he developed into a serious midfield prospect. His performances there drew attention from the big sides, and City eventually came calling, securing him on a five-year deal.

Now the stage is set for a debut that could also deliver Maresca's first piece of silverware. The 46-year-old hopes to lift the octagonal cup at Wembley, and in doing so become the first City manager to win a trophy in his first game in charge.

Recent history suggests it won't be easy. Pep Guardiola, Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini all had to wait for their first honours at the club. Maresca, though, has a chance none of them enjoyed: a trophy on day one, with a record signing ready to announce himself.

When Chelsea set a 5pm deadline for offers for Enzo Fernandez, the expectation was that City might finally make their move. They didn't. No bid arrived from anyone, and the Argentine World Cup winner remains on the books at Stamford Bridge.

Yet that silence doesn't mean the story is over. Far from it.

What the reports say

Matt Law, writing in the Telegraph, reports that City retain genuine interest in Fernandez, even though they let Chelsea's deadline come and go without a formal offer. Chelsea, for their part, have reportedly taken the £120m figure off the table — though sources suggest they'd still consider that number if a bid arrived late.

It's a strange kind of standoff. Chelsea say the deadline has passed. City say nothing. And in the background, the real reason for the delay is playing out elsewhere.

The Rodri link

Miguel Delaney in the Independent frames it clearly: any City move for Fernandez depends on Rodri being sold to Barcelona, and quickly. City have already rejected two offers from the La Liga champions, neither of which came close to the £70m valuation placed on arguably the finest midfielder in the world.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are acting like the smartest club in the room. They're dragging their feet, and City are getting frustrated.

Delaney reports that the two deals are running in parallel. Sufficient progress has been made in talks over Fernandez, apparently, but the Rodri situation is holding everything up.

What happens now

If Chelsea stick to their guns, any late City bid is doomed. But if the Rodri sale finally goes through, the Blues could still make their play for the controversial midfielder.

For now, it's a waiting game. City's interest remains, the deadline has passed, and nobody seems willing to blink first.

Pedro Neto's future is suddenly moving again, and not in the direction City supporters might have hoped.

Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri reports that Al-Hilal have agreed personal terms with the Chelsea winger, and that the London club are now willing to listen to offers in the region of €60m. That figure matters because Neto has been on City's radar for weeks — not as a headline signing, but as a contingency.

The 26-year-old Portugal international is the man City have in mind should Savinho depart for Tottenham. Spurs have kept up their pursuit of the Brazilian all summer, and each passing week makes that possibility feel a little less theoretical.

What happens next

None of this is done yet. An agreement over personal terms is not a completed transfer, and Chelsea still have to thrash out a fee with the Saudi Pro League side. There is also, it should be said, no indication that City have tabled a formal offer for Neto.

What the Al-Hilal interest does is add a layer of urgency. If Neto heads to Saudi Arabia, City lose one of their more obvious replacements for Savinho. That leaves the club with a decision: move for Neto now, or accept that the pool of options is shrinking.

For now, the ball sits with Chelsea and Al-Hilal. City, as ever, are watching.