Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has touched on a relative lack of incomings at the Etihad Stadium this summer as exits dominate the headlines.
Let's talk Elliot Anderson: Manchester City's £116M man!
More Videos
Manchester City are continuing to undergo a significant period of change following Pep Guardiola’s departure earlier this summer, with sporting director Hugo Viana building a fresh squad for new manager Enzo Maresca.
The Blues have already bid farewell to iconic and legendary figures such as Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, John Stones, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders prior to Sunday’s Premier League opening weekend victory against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium.
Savinho is expected to complete a £85 million transfer to Tottenham in the coming hours, with fellow Etihad Stadium attacker Omar Marmoush also in line to join the Brazilian in north London.
Furthermore, Nico Gonzalez has been told he is free to leave Manchester City by officials despite the former FC Porto man’s public admission of wanting to stay and fight for minutes under Enzo Maresca.
Manchester City's Nico Gonzalez has welcomed the serious competition for places in midfield at the club despite ongoing speculation concerning his immediate future at the Etihad Stadium.cityxtra.co.ukNico Gonzalez Welcomes Competition for Man City Places Amid Newcastle Transfer Speculation
Manchester City's Nico Gonzalez has welcomed the serious competition for places in midfield at the club despite ongoing speculation concerning his immediate future at the Etihad Stadium.
City have also replaced goalkeeper James Trafford, who joined Leeds United for an Elland Road-record £40 million, with Geronimo Rulli from Olympique Marseille, with Elliot Anderson also coming in as the hallmark midfield signing for a stunning £116 million fee,
However, there are major loopholes to plug in a meagre City midfield after recent exits of Rodri and Reijnders, and with Savinho - and quite possibly Marmoush - off to Spurs, the club have come under strong criticism for their lack of pragmatism in the transfer market.
"Hopefully we can do the things we need", says Maresca in transfer message to Hugo Viana
In a recent press conference, manager Enzo Maresca was asked about a wide-held sentiment around the club’s lack of new incomings, relative to outgoings, so far this summer.
“I think it’s a feeling for most clubs, not all clubs because some prefer to do the business at the beginning or at the end of the previous season,” Maresca told reporters.
“I think we are almost in the same situation as all the other clubs; it’s 10 days to go and hopefully we can do the things we need to do.
“It doesn’t help that there are players that, for different reasons, want to leave - this is for sure. But we need to adapt, and also we don’t want to keep players here that don’t want to stay, for sure.”
On how confident he is that things are not going to look as alarming as now in terms of Manchester City’s transfer business and the squad, the Italian added, “I think, again, it’s a similar situation for all the clubs, all the fans because you are waiting to do things.
“And probably the normal thing in the transfer window is you have to wait until the last week, because all the clubs want to keep their players and until the last week, and then sell for more money - it’s normal.
“So I’m not worried about that, and when the transfer window closes and when we have all the squad here, for sure it will be different.”
On whether it is his policy to allow players to go if they don’t want to stay, the 46-year-old said: “He can go! Absolutely! Because if he’s not happy, he’s not going to perform in the right way!”
What will the final week of the window look like for City?
Manchester City finally agreed a €100 million package with Lille for Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi over the course of the weekend, with the player in-turn agreeing a five-year deal - with the option of a further 12 months - at the Etihad Stadium.
Lille and Manchester City have come to an agreement over a transfer for Ayyoub Bouaddi to the Etihad Stadium, it is being reported.cityxtra.co.ukMan City and Lille Reach Full Agreement on Ayyoub Bouaddi
Lille and Manchester City have come to an agreement over a transfer for Ayyoub Bouaddi to the Etihad Stadium, it is being reported.
Enzo Maresca is also believed to be pushing for the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, with the 25-year-old midfielder keen to reunite with his former Stamford Bridge manager in England's north-west.
Palmeiras' Allan Elias has been identified by Manchester City as a like-for-like replacement for the outgoing Savinho, with AS Roma's Manu Kone also a midfield target in the final week of the window.
Manchester City want to sign at least two midfielders and a new winger before the September 1 deadline and all eyes are on sporting director Hugo Viana and his recruitment colleagues as they look to build on their opening weekend win over Bournemouth.