Some members of the Manchester City first-team squad have made attempts to persuade Nico Gonzalez to stay at the club amid interest from Newcastle United, according to reports.
Elliot Anderson leads Manchester City's midfield for the 2026/27 season
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The Spanish midfielder has become the very latest of Enzo Maresca's first-team playing squad to find his immediate-term future thrust into doubt with just days remaining in the summer transfer window and the new Premier League season underway.
Whilst Manchester City are due to kick-off their 2026/27 campaign on Sunday afternoon with an Etihad Stadium meeting against Bournemouth, Hugo Viana's mission to finalise his squad remains ongoing with only Elliot Anderson through the door as a starting line-up recruit.
All of Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Tijjani Reijnders have left the club for Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Al Qadsiah respectively, giving the club's recruitment department plenty of work to do even before taking into account the uncertainty surrounding Nico Gonzalez.
Signed by Manchester City during the 2025 January transfer window and hugely impressing sporadically for the club since then, Gonzalez has ultimately failed to secure his starting place at the Etihad Stadium and has thus opened the door to new opportunities.
Enzo Maresca has insisted that Manchester City have total clarity as to what remaining transfer business they need to complete during the final two weeks of the summer transfer window.cityxtra.co.ukMan City Know Exactly Who They Need to Sign This Summer, Says Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca has insisted that Manchester City have total clarity as to what remaining transfer business they need to complete during the final two weeks of the summer transfer window.
City players plot Gonzalez stay as transfer talks continue
Now, according to the information of MailSport's Craig Hope, Manchester City have told Nico Gonzalez that he can leave the Etihad Stadium this summer, as talks with Newcastle United continue.
It is explained that the former FC Porto and Barcelona defensive midfielder is open to a move up to the North-East, but some of his current Manchester City team-mates have tried to 'talk him into staying'.
Gonzalez is said to be one of three midfield options being looked at by transfer officials at St James' Park, however the word is simultaneously that the 24-year-old is the leading target for now.
How would Man City replace Gonzalez?
Whilst Nico Gonzalez has ultimately been deemed surplus to requirements by key officials within Manchester City, his mere presence within an ever-slimming first-team squad is vital in the eyes of many this summer, before taking into account his potential.
Lille and Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi appears to be the primary transfer target for Manchester City in the remaining days of the summer window, irrespective of potential outgoings, although negotiations for the 18-year-old continue to be problematic.
As the French side target a transfer fee of around €100 million, Manchester City continue to work simultaneously on other targets on the European scene and not as alternatives to Bouaddi, but more given the situation they find themselves in the same position.
As the Premier League opener against Bournemouth finally arrives for Enzo Maresca, the Italian coach is highly likely to turn to Mateo Kovacic and Elliot Anderson in the deeper roles within midfield, accompanied by the likes of Phil Foden or Rayan Cherki in the more creative and advanced position.