Maresca Targets Chelsea Stars for Manchester City

Enzo Maresca is wasting no time shaping Manchester City in his own image. Barely into his first season at the Etihad, the new manager is already looking back to Chelsea for two of the players he trusts most.

Maresca’s Chelsea raid

City’s interest in Enzo Fernández has been an open secret for weeks, but the scale of the deal remains the major obstacle. Chelsea want around £120 million for the Argentina midfielder, a fee that reflects both his status and their determination to keep him. Fernández has been publicly open to a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, yet that price tag is a wall even City have to think twice about climbing.

Maresca, though, is pushing. He sees Fernández as a cornerstone for his midfield, a player to dictate games in the way City demand.

The City boss is also eyeing another Chelsea asset. According to Fabrizio Romano, Maresca wants winger Pedro Neto as a potential replacement for Savinho. The Brazilian’s future has opened a gap in City’s wide areas, and Neto’s direct running and creativity have put him firmly on the radar. Chelsea are aware of the interest, but with their own rebuild in motion, it remains to be seen how flexible they are willing to be.

Spurs move first for Balogun

In north London, Tottenham Hotspur are moving into position for one of the most intriguing attacking options on the market.

L’Equipe reports that Spurs have laid the groundwork for talks with AS Monaco over USMNT striker Folarin Balogun in a deal that could reach around €60 million. The 25-year-old has attracted attention across Europe all summer, with clubs from England and Spain closely tracking him. Newcastle United are named as the other Premier League side in the frame.

Interest is not limited to the traditional powers. Romano reports that Galatasaray and several Saudi Pro League clubs have also called about Balogun in recent days, testing the waters for a late move. For now, though, Tottenham look the most proactive, sensing an opportunity to add a mobile, goalscoring No. 9 to Ange Postecoglou’s attack.

Arsenal prospect offered to United

Arsenal’s own summer business is forcing tough decisions on the fringes of their squad.

The Guardian reports that defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to Manchester United as the Gunners look to claw back some of the £75 million they spent on Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães. The 19-year-old’s prospective value is expected to be around £45 million, a sizeable fee for a player still at the start of his senior career.

Chelsea have also been alerted to Lewis-Skelly’s availability, though it is not yet clear whether they will move. For United, the primary left-back target remains Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, but new manager Matthias Jaissle is determined to keep the 21-year-old after already losing Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. That stance could nudge United to look more seriously at Lewis-Skelly as the window tightens.

Al Nassr circle Maignan

In Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr are lining up their next major move.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the club are showing interest in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with questions growing over his future at San Siro. A face-to-face meeting between Maignan and Milan is planned to clarify both sides’ positions, a key moment in deciding whether the France international stays in Serie A or considers a new challenge.

Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, are searching for a new No. 1 to replace Bento and see Maignan as a statement signing. At 31, his next contract will be decisive. It is not yet known whether he is open to a switch to the Saudi Pro League, but the money and ambition on offer will be hard to ignore.

Barcelona’s moving pieces

Barcelona’s summer is unfolding on several fronts at once.

A source has told ESPN that the club have given Ferran Torres permission to stay away from the training ground while they negotiate his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Torres had been due back on Wednesday after three weeks off, having scored the winning goal in the World Cup final for Spain. Instead, Barça and PSG are working to finalise terms for a move that would reshape both squads.

At the same time, Barcelona remain optimistic about signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri. Their first bid, worth around €50 million, was rejected last week, but negotiations with City are ongoing as the Catalan club push for a deal. They also plan to offer Marc Bernal an improved contract, keen to lock down one of their most promising young talents.

Deals done

Chelsea have already moved to strengthen their left flank, completing the signing of Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria in a £16.3 million deal. The move adds depth and competition in a position that has been a persistent concern.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have brought in Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, with an option to make the transfer permanent. It is a low-risk, potentially high-reward addition for a squad that needed fresh energy.

Europe’s rumour mill keeps turning

Across the continent, negotiations and phone calls continue to shape the final weeks of the window:

• Free agent striker Dusan Vlahovic has reached a verbal agreement with Besiktas.
• Fenerbahce have an agreement with Napoli for Romelu Lukaku in a deal worth over €6 million plus bonuses.
• Tottenham have registered interest in Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini.
• Manchester United are weighing up talks with Club Brugge over a potential £30 million move for Joaquin Seys.
• Paris Saint-Germain have a deal in principle with Parma for a €35 million package to sign Zion Suzuki, with plans to loan him immediately to Juventus.
• Borussia Dortmund are close to sending a €50 million offer plus €5 million in add-ons for Koln winger Said El Mala, with personal terms already agreed.
• Roma have reached a verbal agreement with Porto over a loan for Rodrigo Mora worth around €7 million, including an option that becomes mandatory under certain conditions.
• Como refuse to drop their pursuit of Fiorentina striker Moise Kean and will make new contacts soon.
• Lazio are negotiating with Inter Milan for Davide Frattesi on a loan that includes a conditional obligation to buy.
• Everton want to bring Kyle Walker back to the Premier League after Burnley’s relegation.
• Napoli are expected to push ahead in talks for Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile, initially on loan.
• Juventus are ready to raise their offer for Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi to €20 million and have proposed loaning Juan Cabal with an option to buy.
• With Chelsea open to loan proposals for Mykhaylo Mudryk, the winger’s preference is to stay in the Premier League despite interest from Strasbourg and several Italian clubs.
• Brentford are preparing a new package close to £40 million for West Ham United left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf.

From Maresca’s bid to reshape Manchester City to Tottenham’s pursuit of Balogun and Barcelona’s delicate balancing act, the market is tightening. The money is on the table. Now the question is simple: who blinks first?