Manchester City are facing a hectic final days of the transfer window, with significant work still required to reshape the squad for new head coach Enzo Maresca. Time is running out to bring in replacements for the players who have already left or are set to depart, and the club remains focused on securing a marquee midfield signing before the deadline.
Savinho close to Spurs move
The closest to leaving is Savinho, with a £75m deal agreed with Tottenham that could rise to £85m, leaving only the formalities to be completed. Tottenham are also confident of landing Omar Marmoush, while Newcastle are set to seal a £50m deal for Nico Gonzalez before the window closes. The Egyptian striker did train with City on Monday.
Even if Marmoush only leaves on loan with an option to buy, a permanent sale for Gonzalez would give City the funds that Chelsea are demanding for Enzo Fernandez. City still believe a deal can be done despite the deadline that was set and not met a few weeks ago, but Chelsea hold plenty of negotiating power as the window winds down, with City still needing a premium midfield addition.
Record fee likely for Fernandez
It will likely require City to break their transfer record for the second time in a matter of months to land Fernandez. However, there is belief within the club that the player wants to move, which could help their cause, but it will still be an expensive operation.
Adam Wharton has been mentioned as an option this summer, but City had accepted Crystal Palace's stance that they would not sell in this window. Fernandez remains the most likely target after Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose signing will be completed in the next few days, but there is significant work to do at the negotiating table.
More signings needed across the squad
City need to sign at least one more midfielder to cover exits if they are to stick to their position of replacing every player who leaves in order to make sure Maresca has the support he needs as he succeeds Pep Guardiola. That extends to every role in the squad, meaning a forward will have to be signed in place of Marmoush.
The Blues have agreed a deal to sign Palmeiras winger Allan to take Savinho's place in the squad, with an initial fee of £32.1m (€37.5m) plus another few million (€2.5m) in add-ons. More is still needed, especially given Jack Grealish is expected to be moved on before the window shuts as well, despite an injury to Jeremy Doku ruling him out of the opening games of the season.
There has been late interest in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, who Spurs had been lining up to sign as well as Savinho. It remains to be seen if Liverpool would be willing to sell to City given their rivalry over the last 10 years, but that is an intriguing story this week.
Young talents await decisions
City must also sort the short-term futures for a number of their emerging talents. Claudio Echeverri, Max Chabot, and Steph Mfuni are among the players who have still not confirmed their path for the season.
