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14 August 2026

Enzo Maresca has suggested that Manchester City are unlikely to sign Enzo Fernandez before the deadline set by Chelsea, though he made it clear that he still wants to continue strengthening his squad during the summer transfer window.

The Italian’s former club have said they want the future of the Argentina midfielder resolved by 5pm on Friday, with Chelsea informing interested clubs this week that they must meet the £120m asking price.

Chelsea have set a 5pm deadline on Friday for Manchester City to lodge an offer for Enzo Fernandez.

However, although Maresca is keen to bring in more players, he indicated that City are unlikely to make a move within Chelsea’s timeframe.

“I don’t think we are going to do something today,” he said.

Rodri has now returned to Manchester after the World Cup, although Barcelona have already had two bids turned down for the World Cup-winning midfielder.

City considered the initial £38.4m proposal to be not serious, and although Barcelona increased their offer to £51m and remain interested, Maresca avoided giving a clear answer on whether the midfielder will stay.

“I just saw Rodri, I gave him a big hug,” he said.

Rodri continues to be linked with a move away from Manchester City.

City are looking at Fernandez and Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi as possible midfield reinforcements, while they are also set to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for £51m.

They have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a club-record £116m, while their only other additions so far have been reserve goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and teenage winger Jeremy Monga.

And Maresca, in his first season as manager, wants more arrivals. “When the window is open, we can buy players and we can sell players,” he said. “For sure there are things that we need to do, can be one can be two [new signings], it depends if they want to leave.”

Maresca’s reign will begin with the Community Shield against Arsenal on Sunday, and the Italian is eager to start by winning silverware. “For me personally it is a trophy and when a trophy is there in a final is there you are always trying to win so it is no friendly game at all,” he added.