The relationship between Leicester and Man City is still strong and appears to have strengthened this summer
11:00, 12 Jul 2026
Enzo Maresca
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Enzo Maresca could provide a transfer boost to Leicester City in the summer window(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Leicester City’s summer rebuild may have been given a boost in the last few weeks, with the news that Enzo Maresca has officially joined Manchester City. The former City boss has returned to the Etihad Stadium, where he was Pep Guardiola's assistant before arriving at the King Power Stadium three years ago.
Maresca took charge of Leicester for the 2023/24 Championship season, leading them to the title and promotion straight back to the Premier League. But, the following summer, he left to join Chelsea and City struggled to find the right replacement, turning to Steve Cooper and later Ruud van Nistelrooy, who were unable to stave off relegation.
Things have not got better for City, with another relegation last season seeing them prepare for life in League One for the 2026/27 campaign. A lot of changes are expected in the squad over the next few weeks and months.
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Maresca’s arrival at Man City may have already benefited City. On Saturday, it was confirmed that academy graduate Jeremy Monga has completed a move to Man City for a fee of £10 million, rising to £12.5m.
The 17-year-old did look set for a move to Arsenal earlier in the summer, but some reports suggest that the Gunners’ last bid was £6.5m. Maresca was said to be a driving force behind Man City’s interest, having known Monga from his time at the club and with Man City willing to pay more than Arsenal, a deal was reached with City able to get more money which could possibly be reinvested back into the squad.
That deal could potentially be the first of a few between the two clubs over the summer. There already is a positive relationship between the two clubs. The second half of last season saw City take highly-rated Divine Mukasa on loan, showing the trust that Man City have in Leicester. That is only likely to have strengthened with the Maresca appointment and the Monga deal.
The Italian has only ever spoken positively about Leicester since leaving. “I really feel sorry for Leicester because I will always be thankful for them,” Maresca said in March 2025.
Enzo Maresca during the Sky Bet Championship match between Hull City and Leicester City.
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Enzo Maresca's move to Man City could benefit his old club(Image: Getty Images)
“I met the best people in my life, in terms of football, in Leicester: the owner and the sporting director.
“I hope for Leicester that they’re going to be a Premier League club. Whether I’m surprised, it’s not my job. I’m not there. I’m thinking and focused just about Chelsea.
“But I really feel sorry in case they are not a Premier League club because the people are very good people, they care about you, care about the family, care about the kids.
“It’s so difficult to find these kinds of people in football so I hope for them and for you to stay in the Premier League.”
The positive relationship between Maresca and the club was highlighted toward the end of last season. With the manager out of work, he attended City’s game against Norwich City alongside assistant managers Willy Caballero and Danny Walker.
The relationship could be useful in the transfer window, with City maybe taking some of Man City’s highly rated youngsters on loan for the season to help them in League One. There have been some tentative links with defender Max Alleyne, although City are likely to face competition from Championship clubs should they be interested.
Two possible names for City to consider in the forward areas could be Jayden and Reigan Heskey, the sons of Leicestershire's own Emile Heskey. Both have impressed in the youth set-up at Man City, with Jayden spending the second half of last season on loan with Sheffield Wednesday.
The appointment of Russell Martin is also likely to benefit City in any quest for loan players. The manager’s possession-based style is something that will appeal to Man City. The City boss was highly praised by Guardiola for the job he did at Southampton.
Leicester City manager Russell Martin during a training session
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Leicester appointed Russell Martin as manager this summer(Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Following a game against the Saints in the 2024/25 season, the former Man City boss said: “Today it was not how they [Southampton] defend deep, it was how good they play with the ball with the keeper and the movement. It’s a good game to learn as a manager. I am going to learn a lot with Russell because they did really well. We were humble and accepted that they did really well.
“The build-up is exceptional. They open the channels. They link well with the striker and every moment makes sense.
“I knew after what people had said to me about Russell and we tasted it today. The players were not bad, they were good. When a team plays that level you have to accept it.”
Martin has also previously praised Maresca for the job he has done at both City and Chelsea. “Enzo’s done a great job. I have got a lot of respect for him and what he did at Leicester last season,” he said.
“Sometimes the hardest thing for a coach to do is to take another team and make it his own and look very similar in such quick time, which he has done. He has a really talented group of players, but he has managed to get them to buy into his way of doing things his way of working and his way of playing.”
That mutual respect is another positive factor in the relationship between the two clubs. Both have benefited from the Monga deal; it wouldn’t be a surprise if it’s not the last deal between the two clubs come the end of the transfer window.
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