Maresca's Ambitious Chelsea Double Raid for Manchester City
Manchester City’s new era under Enzo Maresca is barely out of the blocks, but the Italian is already looking back to move forward.
The former Chelsea assistant wants to reunite with two of the players he trusted most at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham Hotspur are positioning themselves for a €60 million move that could reshape their attack. Across Europe, the market is moving fast, and some of the biggest names in the game are suddenly in play.
Maresca eyes Chelsea double raid
Enzo Maresca’s first City squad is still taking shape, yet his targets are anything but tentative.
He is pushing for a deal for Enzo Fernández, a player he knows well and one who has not hidden his willingness to leave Chelsea this summer. The Argentina midfielder has spoken publicly about being open to a new challenge, and Maresca sees him as a centrepiece for his City rebuild.
The problem is obvious: the price.
Chelsea want £120 million, according to Fabrizio Romano, and have no real desire to lose him. That valuation stands as the main obstacle, a financial wall even City will think twice about climbing.
Maresca’s gaze does not stop there. He also wants Chelsea winger Pedro Neto as a potential replacement for Savinho. Neto’s direct running and versatility appeal to a coach who values wide players that can both stretch and break games open. Chelsea, though, know they hold strong cards with two in-demand assets and no pressing need to sell.
Spurs move on Balogun as market heats up
Tottenham have started to move with intent.
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. At 25, Balogun has attracted attention across Europe all summer, with clubs in England and Spain tracking his situation closely.
Newcastle United are named as the other English side in the frame, while Romano reports that Galatasaray and several Saudi Pro League clubs have also made contact in recent days. The interest is broad, the fee significant, and the race is beginning to sharpen.
If Spurs push this over the line, they add a proven finisher entering his prime. If they hesitate, there are plenty ready to step in.
Arsenal prospect offered as United weigh options
At Old Trafford, a different kind of deal is being floated.
The Guardian reports that Arsenal have offered young defender Myles Lewis-Skelly to Manchester United as they look to claw back some of the £75 million spent on Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimarães. The 19-year-old’s prospective valuation is expected to be around £45 million, a substantial figure for a teenager still at the start of his career.
Chelsea have also been alerted to Lewis-Skelly’s availability, though it remains unclear whether they will act on that information.
For United, Lewis Hall of Newcastle remains the primary left-back target. New manager Matthias Jaissle, however, is determined to keep the 21-year-old after already losing Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. Newcastle have dug in before; this time, the resistance could be even stronger.
Al Nassr circle as Maignan’s future questioned
In Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr are preparing for another ambitious move.
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the club are interested in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with a face-to-face meeting planned to clarify positions between the player and Milan. Maignan’s future at San Siro has come under scrutiny, and Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo’s club, are searching for a new No. 1 to replace Bento.
What remains unknown is crucial: would the 31-year-old actually accept a move to the Saudi Pro League? Until that answer arrives, Milan and Al Nassr can only position themselves and wait.
Barcelona reshaping, City braced
Barcelona, meanwhile, are working on exits and arrivals in parallel.
A source has told ESPN that Barça have given Ferran Torres permission to stay away from the training ground while negotiations continue over his move 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, his future is being decided in meeting rooms rather than on the pitch.
At the same time, Barça remain optimistic about signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri. Their first bid, around €50 million, was rejected last week, but talks are ongoing and the Catalan club still believe a deal can be done. They also plan to offer Marc Bernal an improved contract as they try to lock down their emerging talent while chasing an established star.
City, for their part, could yet face a summer in which Maresca is both buyer and seller at the very top of the market.
Deals already over the line
Not every move is still in the negotiation phase.
Chelsea have completed the signing of Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria in a £16.3 million transfer, continuing their policy of stocking up on young, mouldable talent.
Crystal Palace have secured Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, with an option to make the move permanent. It is the kind of deal that can quietly define a season if the fit is right.
Market undercurrent: Vlahovic, Lukaku, Mudryk and more
Beneath the headline moves, the undercurrent of the market is relentless.
Free agent Dusan Vlahovic has reached a verbal agreement with Besiktas, according to Florian Plettenberg. Fenerbahce, for their part, have an agreement with Napoli for Romelu Lukaku on a deal worth over €6 million plus bonuses, reports Matteo Moretto.
Tottenham’s recruitment drive does not stop with Balogun. Nicolo Schira reports that Spurs have also shown interest in Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini, a defender widely viewed as one of Serie A’s brightest prospects.
Manchester United are considering opening talks with Club Brugge over a potential £30 million move for Joaquin Seys, says The Mirror, as they continue to search for value and upside in a difficult market.
Paris Saint-Germain have agreed a deal in principle with Parma for a €35 million package to sign Zion Suzuki, per Romano, with the intention of immediately loaning him to Juventus. It is a classic PSG play: secure the asset, then find the right environment for development.
Borussia Dortmund are close to sending a €50 million plus €5 million add-ons offer to Köln for winger Said El Mala, Plettenberg reports, with personal terms already agreed. Roma, according to Sky Sports Italia, have reached a verbal agreement with Porto for a loan move for Rodrigo Mora worth around €7 million, including an option that becomes mandatory under certain conditions.
Como refuse to back down in their pursuit of Fiorentina striker Moise Kean and will make fresh contact soon, says Moretto, while Lazio are in talks with Inter Milan over Davide Frattesi on a loan with a conditional obligation to buy.
Everton want to bring Kyle Walker back to the Premier League after his relegation with Burnley, reports The Sun, as they look for experience and leadership at right-back.
Napoli are expected to step up efforts to sign Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile, with an initial loan under discussion, Romano reports. 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, according to Schira.
And then there is Mykhaylo Mudryk. Chelsea are open to loan proposals, Romano says, but the winger’s preference is clear: he wants to stay in the Premier League despite interest from Strasbourg and clubs in Italy.
Brentford, meanwhile, are preparing a new package close to £40 million for West Ham left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, according to TEAMtalk, as they continue to punch above their financial weight with targeted, aggressive bids.
The names are big, the numbers even bigger, and the dominoes are lining up. Once the first of these major deals finally drops, how many clubs will be left scrambling to catch up?
