Manchester City are bracing themselves for a hectic conclusion to the transfer window with both incoming and outgoing business anticipated before the deadline.
City manager Enzo Maresca has addressed the club’s transfer strategy as the window enters its final stages.
Maresca acknowledges there could be additional high-profile players leaving before the transfer deadline arrives.
The Citizens began their Premier League season with a thrilling 2-1 victory against Bournemouth, secured through stoppage-time efforts from Marc Guehi and Josko Gvardiol.
The comeback wrapped up what Maresca described as a ‘perfect day’ on his homecoming to the club for his first fixture at the Etihad Stadium as manager.
The newcomer manager’s team selection featured Guehi operating in a central midfield role, with Nico O’Reilly deployed as an attacking midfielder and Rico Lewis occupying the right-back position.
Jack Grealish, Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush – all potentially exiting before the window shuts on September 1, with Tottenham understood to be near to securing the last-named player – all featured among the substitutes. Grealish entered the pitch from the bench during the closing period while Marmoush and Gonzalez remained unused throughout.
But Maresca insisted that any selection decisions should not necessarily be viewed as signals regarding the three players’ futures.
He stated that Grealish remains part of the squad and his responsibility is to coach him and extract the best performance, adding that there is another week remaining and the situation will become clearer, not just with Grealish but other players too.
When questioned whether the same applies to Gonzalez and Marmoush, Maresca responded that there were additional players on the bench, noting that Rayan Ait-Nouri and Vitor Reis also did not feature but stressed those omissions do not mean they are departing due to not playing that day, and the club will assess the situation.
City have reached an agreement to procure Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, with the club paying an initial fee of £84.1million for the young midfielder. The transfer is scheduled to be finalised next week and the 18-year-old might feature against Crystal Palace on Friday evening.
A five-year contract for Bouaddi with the possibility of an additional year indicates the club’s ambition for the teenager to form a significant part of their future plans.
Separately, Savinho’s move to Tottenham is also anticipated to be confirmed shortly. Tottenham have struck a £75million agreement with City for Savinho, comprising a further £5million guaranteed and potentially another £5million in add-ons.