Enzo Maresca insisted that Omar Marmoush hasn't yet asked to leave Manchester City - but will be replaced if he does follow Savinho to Tottenham. Spurs have agreed a £75million deal with City for Savinho that includes another £5m guaranteed and another potential £5m on top of that, and are now looking to close a deal for Marmoush.
Marmoush's situation differs from Savinho's
Maresca has been open about Marmoush considering other options after a lack of playing time last season. Tijjani Reijnders has already left for the same reason, while Newcastle are hoping to tempt Nico Gonzalez to the north-east with the offer of a more prominent role.
City are open to selling Marmoush, but Maresca was clear that there will be a replacement brought in if the Egyptian does leave. As 'complicated' as it has been to try to convince wantaway players to stay, the club will also need to replace them if they are to be allowed to go.
"Omar is still here, still with us. it's a different situation to Savio and we see. Savio since day one asked to leave and Omar didn't ask to leave since day one. Not yet," he said.
Departures and fan concerns
"It's always complicated when someone leaves and one has to arrive. We'll see if Omar stays or what happens. For sure, we are going to have more options in case players go out. As I said already a few times, if they go out, someone has to arrive.
"It's quite clear when players want to leave for any reason, it is complicated to convince them to stay and to change. It happened with Rodri, the same is happening with Savinho."
"Since day one he has been clear that he wants to leave. Now we are waiting. It's complicated when players are clear they want a new challenge or they want to go to Spain or play more minutes. It becomes complicated to convince them to stay."
City fans have grown concerned over the transfer activity this summer, with Rodri, Savinho and Reijnders all agreeing departures in the last week and nobody through the door to replace any of them. A move for Ayyoub Bouaddi has still not been completed, there is no guarantee that a deal for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez can be completed and the targeting of Palmeiras winger Allan has not calmed any fears.
Maresca unfazed by transfer window pressure
There is a lot for City to do, but Maresca was unflustered as he explained that the club have known from the beginning of the window what they want to do and expect to carry that out by the time it closes at the beginning of September.
"We don't have a minimum number or a maximum number (of signings) In case you win games or lose games, we are not going to change our perspective or ideas. We know exactly how many players we need and now we will see in the next 10 days," he said.
"I'm not worried, I'm not concerned. Since day one, we know exactly what we need. We are working together with the sporting director, with the club. It's 10 days to go, 11 days to go. Many things can happen."
