Jeremy Doku's calf problem has opened a door for Jack Grealish. The Belgian winger picked up the injury during the 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, a result that will have stung, and Enzo Maresca has confirmed he will miss Sunday's Premier League opener against Bournemouth at the Etihad. The manager suggested the setback could keep Doku out for "two, three weeks".

That leaves a familiar face to fill the void. Grealish came on for Doku at half-time in that Community Shield loss, his first appearance in a City shirt since May 2025. The previous campaign was spent on loan at Everton under David Moyes, where he played a sizeable part in their 13th-place finish, recording eight goal involvements in 20 appearances.

It is a decent return, though it does not quite match the numbers from his second season at City, when he racked up 12 goal involvements. That was the campaign that ended with the treble, and the stats from that run included eight interceptions and 16 tackles won — proof, if any were needed, that his value was never solely about goals and assists.

Doku, for his part, managed five goals and five assists in 30 appearances during his first season at the Etihad. The numbers are not wildly different, but the styles could hardly be more contrasting. Doku is all directness and acceleration; Grealish offers control and the ability to slow a game down.

The opener against Bournemouth, then, becomes something of an audition. With Doku sidelined, Grealish has the chance to remind everyone what he offers — and to show Maresca that he can be trusted when the Belgian returns. It is not a bad position to be in, even if the circumstances are not ideal.

It is a chance, and one he will want to take. City's squad has options, but the left side is now Grealish's to claim, at least for the next few weeks.

There is also the small matter of Jeremy Monga, the former Leicester City youngster who played on the wing for their Under-21s and even the senior side. He is not yet a first-team fixture, but his presence in the conversation suggests the competition for places is only going to grow.

Sunday brings the usual opening day rituals: fresh kits, renewed optimism and, for the first time in a decade, a Manchester City side stepping out for a top-flight campaign without Pep Guardiola prowling the touchline. The Spaniard departed at the end of last season with an FA Cup and Carabao Cup double, leaving Enzo Maresca the task of filling some rather large shoes.

The Italian's first official match in charge comes with its own pressures. Last weekend's Community Shield ended in a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Arsenal, a result that served as a stark reminder of the scale of the squad rebuilding job on his hands, particularly with the departures of marquee names like Rodri and Nathan Ake.

The visitors arrive in form

If Maresca was hoping for a gentle introduction, Bournemouth are unlikely to oblige. The Cherries currently hold the Premier League's longest active unbeaten run, having gone 18 top-flight matches without defeat — a streak built under Andoni Iraola before he departed for Liverpool. Marco Rose now takes the reins, and Sunday marks his first Premier League game in charge.

It makes for an unusual statistical quirk: this is the first time in the competition's history that a manager will make his debut with a team unbeaten in over 15 matches. The last comparable situation came in 2008, when Luis Scolari took charge of a Chelsea side in similar form.

Numbers favour the Blues

History, at least, tends to favour City on opening weekends. In 14 of the last 15 seasons, the club has won its first league game, the sole exception coming in 2021-22 when Tottenham Hotspur inflicted a 1-0 defeat.

Bournemouth's own record on the opening day makes for less pleasant reading — just two wins from their last nine, against Cardiff in 2018-19 and Aston Villa in 2022-23 — although that 18-match unbeaten run suggests they are a different proposition these days.

The Etihad, too, has been a difficult place to visit. In Guardiola's final league season, City lost only two of 18 home games, and the Blues haven't lost back-to-back top-flight matches at home since 2021.

Then there's Erling Haaland. The Norwegian has scored seven goals in opening day fixtures since arriving in 2022. Only Mohamed Salah, with ten, has more in the competition's history, with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard, Alan Shearer and Jamie Vardy all on eight.

Two new managers, two clubs with plenty to prove. It should be an interesting afternoon.

Manchester City's late-summer business has taken its first twist, with Palmeiras rejecting the club's opening verbal approach for winger Allan Elias.

The 22-year-old has emerged as a priority target for sporting director Hugo Viana and his recruitment staff, with personal terms already agreed. But the São Paulo side have made clear they will not entertain anything short of a serious offer.

City's initial proposal, understood to be in the region of €25 million plus €5 million in bonuses, was never likely to move the needle. Palmeiras have insisted they have no interest in selling unless they receive an 'exceptional' offer, and sources indicate they will not negotiate for anything less than €40 million.

That gap is significant, though not insurmountable. City remain 'very interested' and are preparing a fresh bid with higher figures and performance-related clauses, with the new approach expected 'in the coming hours'.

The wider picture is one of a squad in transition. Rodri has departed for Barcelona, Tijjani Reijnders has moved to Al Qadsiah, and Nico Gonzalez's future remains uncertain amid interest from Newcastle. Savinho, meanwhile, is closing in on an £85 million package to Tottenham — a club who also retain an interest in Omar Marmoush.

Allan is currently the only publicly known target for the wide roles, with City having cooled their interest in Chelsea's Pedro Neto, whose £100 million valuation at Stamford Bridge appears to have priced him out of a move. Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku offer versatility across both flanks, while Academy prospect Ryan McAidoo is another option Maresca believes is ready for regular first-team football this season.

Whether Allan's release clause — set at €100 million — proves a stumbling block or simply a starting point for negotiations remains to be seen. For now, the ball is in City's court.

Manchester City's opening Premier League fixture of the new season has a subplot that Enzo Maresca could hardly have scripted better himself. Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, both natural number tens, both bonafide match-winners, look set to start together against Bournemouth tomorrow.

The reason is less about tactical romance and more about arithmetic. Jeremy Doku is injured, and Savinho is in London finalising a move to Tottenham. Maresca is suddenly short of right-wing options, which rather forces his hand.

So the assumption is straightforward enough: one of the pair occupies the right flank, the other takes the attacking midfield berth. Tomorrow should be one of those occasions where both get the nod.

“They can play together, in different positions. But they are quite similar. If you want to build an important team you need competition. It’s good that Phil and Rayan have competition, but they can play together in some games.”

Those were Maresca's words yesterday, and they cut to the heart of it. The pair are similar. They have played together before and thrived as a combination. But with a fully fit squad at his disposal, the manager would likely face a straight choice between them for the attacking midfield role.

That is the competition. And Maresca believes it is healthy — for the players, and for the club.

Fire and fuel

City have always needed consistent competition for places to keep standards where they are. This is no different. When the squad eventually takes its final shape, it will be that internal rivalry that drives the side forward. It has always been that way at the Etihad, and Maresca's era looks set to follow the same path.

For Foden and Cherki specifically, the dynamic should keep both on their toes. Neither can afford to coast. Both must perform to keep their spot. That is a major positive for a side that has two genuine match-winners pushing each other.

If they feed off it, they could carry this team a long way. If they simply fire together tomorrow, City begin the season with three points.

Either way, it is a decent problem for a manager to have.

Ayyoub Bouaddi's move to the Etihad has hit a familiar pause. Lille have called the 18-year-old into their squad for the opening weekend of the new Ligue 1 season, with the midfielder potentially seeing minutes against Angers on Sunday afternoon.

According to journalist Matteo Moretto, that is the current state of play. The Moroccan international has been on the verge of joining City for days, yet the two clubs remain stuck on a fee. Lille's asking price sits in excess of €100 million, and talks are dragging on.

Negotiations will resume only after Lille's trip to Angers. By then, City's need for midfield reinforcements will be even more acute.

The Blues have already lost Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Tijjani Reijnders this summer, to Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Al Qadsiah respectively. That trio's departures leave a hole in the middle of the park that at least two new signings are expected to fill.

Bouaddi remains the priority, but the hold-up has allowed other names to circulate. Newcastle United are keen on Nico Gonzalez, with the Spaniard reportedly open to a move to the North-East. City's shortlist also includes Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, and Roma's Manu Kone.

Sunday's game in Angers will come and go. The question is whether the pause in talks proves temporary or terminal.

Sunday's meeting with Bournemouth marks the beginning of Enzo Maresca's Premier League tenure, and it could hardly arrive with more questions hanging over the squad. The Community Shield defeat to Arsenal was a sobering afternoon, but the real examination starts now.

City have met Bournemouth nine times at home in the Premier League and won all nine, scoring 34 goals and conceding six. On that record alone, the bookmakers' confidence is understandable — the Blues are 1/2 favourites, with Bournemouth 28/5 to claim a first-ever league win at the Etihad and the draw at 4/1.

Yet the last meeting between these sides ended 1-1 at the Vitality Stadium, a result that officially ended City's 2025/26 title bid. That memory, combined with the manner of the Arsenal defeat and the departure of key players, has raised genuine concerns about whether this squad can challenge again.

Team news: Doku out, Grealish in line

Jeremy Doku's afternoon at the Principality Stadium lasted only until half-time, when a calf injury forced him off. Maresca has confirmed the winger will be sidelined for up to three weeks. Jack Grealish replaced him that day and is in line to start on the left wing, with Antoine Semenyo on the opposite flank.

Semenyo, who impressed after his mid-season move to City, has looked even sharper in pre-season, registering four assists in four appearances. He is 9/2 to add another against his former club.

Matheus Nunes missed the Community Shield with a minor muscle problem but is available again and could replace Abdukodir Khusanov at right-back.

Off the pitch, there is movement too. Savinho has been given permission to undergo a medical ahead of a permanent move to Tottenham, while Omar Marmoush is also the subject of heavy interest from the north London side.

Bournemouth's new-look side

Marco Rose has replaced Andoni Iraola in the Bournemouth dugout, and he has injury issues of his own. Eli Junior Kroupi, who scored 13 Premier League goals in his debut season, is out for the opening three months with a foot injury suffered in pre-season. Julian Araujo has had surgery on a thigh problem, Amine Adli is out for a few weeks with a calf injury, and Veljko Milosavljevic has yet to return after an injury before the Under-19 European Championships.

Ryan Christie serves the final game of his suspension, while David Brooks and Julio Soler face late fitness tests. There is better news with Tyler Adams, who has returned to training — Rose says the USA international is ready for 45 to 60 minutes.

Centre-back Antonio Silva, signed from Benfica for £25 million in the summer, is set to make his Premier League debut alongside James Hill. Fellow new signings Alvaro Rodriguez and Juanlu Sanchez may have to settle for bench places after only recently returning to team training.

Erling Haaland scored twice in this fixture last season and netted the late equaliser at the Vitality. He is 7/10 to score again, while a repeat of last season's 3-1 scoreline is 11/1. The prediction here is a City win with both teams scoring at 13/8.

Maresca's side are 7/2 second favourites for the title. A convincing opening day would quieten some of the doubters.

Manchester City have opened formal negotiations with Palmeiras over the signing of winger Allan, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that talks were initiated overnight. The 22-year-old has already agreed personal terms, according to the transfer journalist.

Allan carries a €100m (£86m) release clause in his contract, though Palmeiras are said to be reluctant sellers and unlikely to demand the full figure. The Brazilian club sit top of their domestic table, with Flamengo just three points behind and holding a game in hand — losing a key player mid-season would sting.

Brazil's calendar runs from January to November, so any deal would pull Allan out of a title race in full swing. That partly explains why Palmeiras are digging in their heels.

The timing is no coincidence. City's Director of Football Hugo Viana is looking to replace a winger, and the trail points to Savinho. Tottenham have agreed to pay £75m up front for the Brazilian, with another £10m in add-ons, and talks are ongoing about Omar Marmoush joining him in North London.

Allan came through Palmeiras' youth ranks, making his senior debut against Portuguesa in the Paulista State Championship at the start of 2025. Since then he has racked up 95 first-team appearances, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists. Most of those outings have come on the right wing, cutting inside onto his stronger left foot.

It is early days, but the pieces are moving. City lose one Brazilian wide man and appear to be lining up another.

Nico Gonzalez has been informed he can leave Manchester City, according to Craig Hope of the Daily Mail, with Newcastle United maintaining a strong interest in the Spanish midfielder.

The news lands at an awkward moment for City, who are already short of midfield options ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League season getting under way this weekend. Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders left earlier this week, and Bernardo Silva departed when his contract expired at the end of the 2025-26 season. The squad that faces Bournemouth will lean on Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis, Nico O'Reilly, Phil Foden, Nico Gonzalez and Rayan Cherki.

Gonzalez, it seems, is becoming open to the move to St James' Park. Some of his City teammates are trying to convince him to shun Newcastle's interest and stay.

He held down the fort superbly well while Rodri was out last season playing in Rodri's role.

That makes the situation a little odd. Gonzalez is the only number six in Enzo Maresca's squad, yet the manager appears to prefer Mateo Kovacic in that position. If the club is willing to let him go, they are effectively gambling on a midfield that already looks thin.

Whether Newcastle can get a deal over the line before the window shuts remains to be seen. City, for their part, might want to think about who plays in front of the back four come Saturday.

You would forgive the average City supporter for checking the transfer feed twice this week. The outgoing tray at the Etihad has been anything but empty, with Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders already through the exit door and Savinho on the brink of joining Tottenham. Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez are widely expected to follow before the window slams shut.

It has made for a restless few days among the fanbase, to put it mildly.

Yet Enzo Maresca, addressing the media ahead of the opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth, struck a notably serene tone. Asked whether the flurry of departures had unsettled his planning, the City manager waved the question away.

“No, I’m not worried or concerned. Since day one we’ve known exactly what we need and we are working together with the Sporting Director and the club. It’s 11 days to go and many things can happen.”

The message is consistent with what he has said all summer: there is a plan, and the club knows precisely what it has to do before the deadline. Whether that translates into incoming business will become clear soon enough.

A Summer Stretched Thin

Part of the explanation for the slow-burn window lies in the calendar. The World Cup and the holidays that followed have stretched City’s timeline for recruitment, pushing decisions later than usual.

Maresca has also been keen to see his squad in action during preseason before committing to a definitive shopping list. That approach has already shaped the clear-out, with several fringe players moving on or set to do so after the tour of Asia.

On numbers, the manager refused to be pinned down. No minimum, no maximum.

“We don’t have minimum or maximum number. Depends a little bit. I said after the last game if we win or lose games we are not going to change our perspective to change our idea of how many we need. We know exactly what we need and how many we need and then we will see.”

So the club waits, the window creaks, and Maresca keeps his counsel. Eleven days is a long time in a transfer market, particularly one that has already surrendered so many familiar faces.

Enzo Maresca's first injury blow as Manchester City boss has arrived before a competitive ball has been kicked. Jeremy Doku is facing two to three weeks out with a calf problem picked up in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal.

The winger was withdrawn at half-time at the Principality Stadium on Sunday, a match that ended 3-0 in Arsenal's favour. It was a worrying sight for City fans, and the concern has proven well founded.

What Doku will miss

The Belgian will sit out the opening Premier League fixtures. That means no Doku for the visit of Bournemouth on 23 August, the trip to Crystal Palace on 28 August, or the home meeting with Coventry City on 5 September.

If the worst-case scenario materialises, there should still be time for a return to training before the visit to Old Trafford on 13 September. That, at least, offers some comfort.

Grealish question lingers

With Doku sidelined, the spotlight falls on Jack Grealish, who replaced him in the Community Shield. The 30-year-old has been handed the No.18 shirt for the new season, but that does not necessarily mean he will be wearing it in competitive action.

Everton remain strongly linked with a move for Grealish, while a return to Aston Villa has been suggested by the bookmakers. There is little obvious reason for that particular rumour to have surfaced, but it persists.

Staying at the Etihad cannot be completely dismissed, though an exit still looks the likelier outcome. Either way, Maresca may need to find solutions on the left flank sooner than he would have liked.

Manchester City's summer of transition shows no signs of slowing. With Rodri's £65.4 million departure to Barcelona and Bernardo Silva's free move to Real Madrid, the club has already lost two pillars of their midfield engine room. Tijjani Reijnders, after just one season in England, has also headed for the exit, joining Saudi side Al Qadsiah.

In response, City have broken their transfer record to land Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million up-front. But the business is far from done.

Fernandez Still in the Frame

Despite the heavy spend on Anderson, City remain prepared to bid for Enzo Fernandez. Chelsea value the Argentina international at around £120 million, a figure that would once again test City's willingness to splash out on a single player.

The pursuit of a second midfielder, however, is not a one-horse race.

Bouaddi Talks Advance

Advanced talks are underway with Lille over Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Morocco international who could be had for a fee in the region of £85 million. That would represent another significant outlay, but the teenager's potential appears to have convinced City to move quickly.

Elsewhere, an enquiry has been lodged for Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, while AS Roma's Manu Kone is under consideration. Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister is also appreciated by the club, though prising him from Anfield would be a different matter entirely.

Bournemouth's Alex Scott was the subject of an approach last month, only for the Cherries to rebuff a £64 million bid from Chelsea and insist the midfielder is not for sale.

Two In Before the Deadline

City are expected to bring in two midfielders between now and the September 1 deadline. With the squad already reshaped by significant departures, the next few weeks will define the direction of Maresca's midfield for the season ahead.

Just as Ruben Dias prepares to be confirmed as Manchester City captain, the rumour mill has thrown up a curveball involving one of football's most powerful agents.

Jorge Mendes is said to have spent Wednesday afternoon at AC Milan's facilities, exploring a potential swap deal that would send Dias to Serie A and bring Rafael Leao to the Etihad, with cash changing hands to balance the books.

It is the kind of story that would have felt unthinkable a fortnight ago.

A Summer of Change

City's summer has been defined by departures. John Stones, Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji have all left the centre of defence, with Rodri the latest senior figure to head for the exit, joining Barcelona. Bernardo Silva, the former skipper, has already moved to Real Madrid on a free transfer.

Dias, by contrast, signed a fresh deal last summer running until 2029 with an option for another year. He has been tipped as the cornerstone of Enzo Maresca's squad, and wore the armband in City's first competitive game under the new manager last weekend.

That game brought a brutal reality check — a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Premier League champions Arsenal.

Mendes in the Middle

The twist here is that Mendes represents both players. He is keen to broker a deal between two of his clients, swapping destinations between Italy and England.

Leao, 27, is contracted at the San Siro until 2028 and has been linked with an exit since last summer. Milan have struggled to find suitors willing to meet their €50 million valuation of the forward.

Dias, meanwhile, was linked with a sensational move to Real Madrid in the early weeks of the window, where he would have reunited with Bernardo Silva. Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho was believed to be pushing for the signing in a transitional summer in the Spanish capital.

Those links have cooled, and the centre-half has been focused on City since returning to pre-season.

Whether the Milan interest amounts to anything more than agent chatter remains to be seen. City welcome Bournemouth to the Etihad on Sunday for the opening Premier League game of the season, with Dias expected to partner either Josko Gvardiol or Abdukodir Khusanov at the back.

Mendes may be busy, but City's captain-elect appears to have other things on his mind.

Jeremy Doku will play no part in City's Premier League opener against Bournemouth on Sunday, with the Belgian winger ruled out by the calf problem he picked up in the Community Shield.

Enzo Maresca confirmed on Friday that the 24-year-old is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks, a blow that arrives just as the new season gets underway.

Doku started last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal but was withdrawn at half-time after reporting discomfort. The manager offered a straightforward explanation for the change.

“Unfortunately, in the last game at half-time he was complaining about a calf pain,” Maresca said.

The prognosis is relatively encouraging, with the City boss putting the likely recovery time at “2-3 weeks, no more than that”. Even so, the timing is awkward.

Sunday's visit of Bournemouth to the Etihad will be Maresca's first Premier League match in charge, and he will have to plan for it without one of his most direct attacking threats. A two-to-three-week absence could also put next weekend's trip to Newcastle in doubt, although much will depend on how Doku's recovery progresses.

Nunes back in the frame

There is better news elsewhere in the squad. Matheus Nunes is available again after being forced out of the Arsenal game during the warm-up, having been due to start before picking up an injury.

“At the moment, the only one [unavailable] is Jeremy Doku,” Maresca said. “Then Matheus [Nunes] is back. Jeremy, but the rest are all okay.”

It is a frustrating way for Doku to begin life under his new contract, which runs until 2031. He will hope the lay-off proves as short as the manager expects.

Enzo Maresca has offered a candid assessment of the challenge City face when a player has decided his future lies elsewhere, following Rodri's departure to Barcelona.

The 30-year-old Ballon d'Or winner has ended his seven-year association with the Etihad, signing a four-year deal with the Catalan giants. The fee, reported to be in the region of £65 million, includes an up-front payment of €60 million with add-ons that could push the total beyond €71.5 million.

"It's quite clear when a player wants to leave, and then it's difficult. For any reason that they want to leave, it's complicated to convince them to stay or change their stance," Maresca admitted.

The manager's words carry weight given the scale of this summer's overhaul. Rodri's exit, with just one year left on his contract, follows the departures of Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid and Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah. The Blues are also facing ongoing doubts over Nico Gonzalez's future, with Newcastle circling.

And Rodri is not the only one who has made his intentions clear.

"It happened with Rodri, the same is happening with Savinho - since day one, he has been asking me he wants to leave. So now we are waiting," he continued.

With the window entering its final fortnight, the focus is turning to reinforcements. Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille is expected to be the first new arrival, while City maintain their interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Roma's Manu Kone. Enquiries have also been made about Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, though the South London club have been firm in their refusal to sell the former Blackburn academy graduate.

The rebuild is gathering pace, but Maresca's honesty suggests the club are under no illusions about the size of the task.

The scale of Manchester City's summer surgery in midfield has been laid bare this week. Rodri has gone, Bernardo Silva is following him out of the door, and Tijjani Reijnders has already departed. That is a lot of experience to lose in one window, and the club's response has been decisive.

Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Lille midfielder, is the man earmarked to fill the void left by Rodri. Sources have told Football Insider that City have beaten a host of rivals to the Morocco international's signature, with talks between the two clubs accelerating over the last six weeks.

Bouaddi has been the club's priority midfield target all along, even before Rodri's £65.4million move to Barcelona was confirmed earlier this week. The teenager's breakout World Cup performances appear to have convinced Maresca that he is the right fit for a side in transition.

"They are rebuilding that midfield, Man City, with Bernardo Silva leaving in summer, Rodri's gone, Tijjani Reijnders has gone as well," one source explained on the Transfer Insider podcast.

So far, Elliot Anderson has been the only new face through the door. Bouaddi would change that in a significant way.

Rivals left behind

Liverpool and Arsenal both held talks with Lille over Bouaddi, but City moved ahead of their rivals weeks ago. The player has made it clear he prefers a move to the Etihad, which tends to simplify these negotiations.

There remains work to be done. All parties are waiting for the green light from Lille and for a fee to be agreed — former Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider last month that City were closing in on signing Bouaddi for less than Lille's initial asking price.

Once that is sorted, the player will travel to Manchester to finalise the deal. It feels like a formality at this stage.

And it may not be the last midfield arrival. City have looked at other options and will reassess once Bouaddi is signed, though they cannot sign everyone they have been linked with. Priorities will have to be set.

Omar Marmoush has agreed terms with Tottenham Hotspur, with talks between the two clubs now at an advanced stage. The Egypt international appears to be closing in on a move back to London, just 18 months after arriving at the Etihad.

According to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Marmoush and Spurs have reached a full verbal agreement. The same reporter expects a deal to be wrapped up unless there is a late twist in negotiations, though neither club has yet made anything official.

Talks between Tottenham and City are described as advanced, with Plettenberg expecting an agreement to be reached unless there is a late change in the negotiations.

The Guardian, meanwhile, suggests Spurs are closing in on a deal worth around £75m for the 27-year-old. Reuters and ESPN confirmed on Friday that the clubs are in negotiations.

Marmoush joined City from Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2025 for a reported £59m. Since then, he has been competing for attacking minutes in a squad built around Erling Haaland, and a return to the capital now looks increasingly likely.

Spurs are also close to completing a separate deal for City winger Savinho, with the Brazilian expected to move for an initial £75m plus add-ons. That would make for a significant summer of outgoings on City's attacking front, though nothing has been signed off just yet.

It has been a week of significant movement at Manchester City. Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and likely Savinho have all departed, leaving Enzo Maresca to reshape his squad as the new season approaches.

The manager will be grateful, then, for one constant: Erling Haaland's remarkable habit of hitting the ground running.

Since joining the club, the striker has scored seven goals in his first four matches of a campaign. That is not a slow burner. That is a statement of intent before most teams have found their rhythm.

Haaland's importance was underlined again over the summer, when his goals carried Norway to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. International tournaments can drain a player. For Haaland, they appear to have sharpened him.

Maresca, now the man in charge following Pep Guardiola's departure, has plenty of quality at his disposal for the opening Premier League fixture. But with three key figures out of the door, the spotlight falls squarely on the Norwegian.

City begin their league campaign this Sunday against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. The Blues are also the current FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, so the expectation is hardly modest.

In a summer of transition, Haaland's early-season form might just be the most reliable thing Maresca has.

Manchester City have agreed to sell Savinho to Tottenham in a deal that could reach £85 million. The structure is straightforward: £75 million up front, with a further £10 million in potential add-ons, £5 million of which is considered easily achievable.

The Brazilian winger is now set to travel to north London to undergo a medical and complete the transfer. He will not be involved in City's opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, and he is also unlikely to be registered in time for Tottenham's first league game away at Brentford.

More to Follow?

Talks are also progressing between City and Tottenham over Omar Marmoush, who is believed to have given the green light to follow Savinho to north London. It suggests Spurs are serious about rebuilding their attack, and City are equally serious about reshaping theirs.

This is a window of considerable change at the Etihad. Enzo Maresca has replaced Pep Guardiola as manager, and the club have already recruited Elliot Anderson, Jeremy Monga and Geronimo Rulli. At the same time, senior figures such as Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Nathan Ake and John Stones have been allowed to leave.

It is a significant overhaul, and one that raises questions about the direction of the squad.

Questions for Maresca

Maresca is expected to face questions over the manner in which City have approached the transfer window when he faces the press on Friday. The club won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup double under Guardiola last term, so there is a standard to maintain.

Whether this level of turnover is a necessary evolution or a gamble remains to be seen. For now, the focus is on Savinho's departure and what it means for the squad.

There weren't many Manchester City players who emerged from the Community Shield with any credit. A 3-0 defeat to Arsenal tends to have that effect. But among the general grimness, one cameo stood out.

Marc Guehi played 37 minutes of the second half. He was, by some distance, City's best defender on the day. It was a glimpse of what he offers, and why he might be more important than the headline signings this summer.

A different kind of leader

Guehi arrived from Crystal Palace in January and made an immediate impression on Pep Guardiola's back line. Now, heading into the 2026-27 campaign, his role under Enzo Maresca looks set to grow further.

He is not a demonstrative presence in the Ruben Dias mould. There will be no screaming at teammates or theatrical gestures. Instead, Guehi leads quietly. He was Palace's captain before the move, and that experience matters at a club still searching for new voices in the dressing room.

City need leaders to emerge in this new era. Guehi should be one of them, even if he has only been at the club for less than a year.

Composure at the back, calmness on the ball

At the heart of his game is composure. Whether defending his own box or playing out from the back, Guehi brings a steadiness that City's rearguard has occasionally lacked. He is a calming influence, and that is a quality Maresca will need to tap into.

His presence appears to lift those around him. Abdukodir Khusanov, in particular, is a better player with Guehi alongside him. The pair could form the basis of something solid for years to come.

If you were picking City's strongest defence on paper, Guehi should be in it. He is a proven centre-back at the highest level, and his leadership will be vital as the season unfolds.

The late arrival for preseason, after his efforts for England at the World Cup, means he is still building towards full sharpness. But the early signs suggest his importance will become clear very quickly once the campaign gets underway.

Jack Grealish will wear the No.18 shirt for Manchester City in the 2026/27 season, according to the latest update on the club's official website. The confirmation arrives with the 30-year-old entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

The England international spent last season on loan at Everton, where he was rebuilding his career after struggling for regular minutes in the campaigns following City's historic 2022/23 treble under Pep Guardiola. Everton covered 75 per cent of his wages — understood to be around £300,000-per-week — and hold a £50 million buy option to make the move permanent.

Everton CEO Angus Kinnear has revealed the Merseyside club have "remained in contact" with Grealish, but conceded the winger's immediate future rests with Manchester City.

Grealish made his long-awaited return to City action in last week's Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, coming on at half-time in Cardiff in place of Jeremy Doku. The substitute appearance followed his recovery from a foot bone stress fracture suffered in January while at Everton.

The immediate question is whether Grealish features in City's opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at the Etihad on Sunday. Doku, reportedly carrying a calf injury from the Arsenal match, is now a major doubt for the Cherries clash.

Beyond that, the picture grows murkier. From January 1, 2027, Grealish will be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with other clubs, and there is next to no chance at present that City offer him a new deal beyond next summer.

City are far from the finished article in their squad rebuild as they prepare for their first season beyond Guardiola, who ended his trophy-laden decade in the north-west in May. Grealish's shirt number is settled, but his longer-term future remains anything but.

Manchester City's interest in Adam Wharton has hit a familiar dead end, with Crystal Palace making it abundantly clear the midfielder is not for sale this summer.

According to David Ornstein and Sam Lee in The Athletic, City have made an enquiry about the England international. The response from Selhurst Park was about as welcoming as a South London winter: no intention of selling, thank you very much.

Wharton sits on a recruitment list that, by all accounts, is longer than a queue for the Etihad concourse at half-time. The names of the other candidates have not been made public, which is probably just as well — City tend to keep such matters close to the chest until a deal is all but done.

For now, the club's midfield planning continues with one door firmly closed. Whether that leads City to push harder or simply move on to the next name on the list remains to be seen, though Palace's stance suggests the latter is the more likely route.

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.