Enzo Fernandez signed for Manchester City this week
Enzo Fernandez signed for Manchester City this week(Image: Man City)
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Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca must decide how many of his expensively assembled summer signings slot into his side for the Premier League visit of Coventry City this afternoon.
Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi arrived at a cost of nearly £200million this summer and then City spent a further £190m on deadline day to sign Enzo Fernandez in a club record deal from Chelsea and Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
Both are available and could make their debuts against Coventry with Maresca having a near fully-fit squad to choose from with Jeremy Doku the only confirmed absentee.
Matheus Nunes is fit again after missing the win at Crystal Palace last time out and could come back into the side at right back in place of Abdukodir Khusanov. Ruben Dias will captain the side and Marc Guehi, himself named as one of the four City captains this week, will likely line up in the middle of defence having returned to his more natural role at Selhurst Park after playing in midfield in the season opener.
The left back decision is an interesting one with Nico O'Reilly having played in midfield thus far this season. But the arrivals in that area of the pitch open up a return to full back for last season's Premier League Young Player of the Year and he could oust Josko Gvardiol with Gianluigi Donnarumma starting in goal.
O'Reilly could partner Anderson in midfield but Fernandez is fit to feature despite not playing since the opening day and Maresca and City haven't spent £125m for the 25-year-old to sit on the bench. Fernandez's fellow deadline day signing Ndiaye can also come into the side on the left flank, allowing Antoine Semenyo to return to the right.
Phil Foden could miss out with Rayan Cherki irresistible in the second half at Palace and the Frenchman already has two goals and two assists this season so is surely nailed on to start in the No.10 role with Erling Haaland up front.
Predicted City XI: Donnarumma, Nunes, Dias, Guehi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Fernandez; Semenyo, Cherki, Ndiaye; Haaland.
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