Maresca's Manchester City Targets: Chelsea's Fernández and Neto

Manchester City’s new era under Enzo Maresca could come with a very familiar core.

The Italian is pushing to reunite with two of his most trusted players from Chelsea, while Tottenham Hotspur move aggressively for Folarin Balogun in what could become one of the window’s biggest Premier League deals.

This is where the market is heating up.

Maresca looks to raid Chelsea

Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge of Manchester City is already being shaped by one club: Chelsea.

City’s new manager is strongly interested in Enzo Fernández, a player he knows well and one who has not hidden his openness to leaving Stamford Bridge this summer. The problem is simple and brutal: money.

Chelsea want around £120 million for the Argentina midfielder, a fee that stands as the main obstacle to any agreement. They are keen to keep him, and that valuation makes it clear they are in no rush to sell.

Maresca’s gaze doesn’t stop in midfield. He also wants Chelsea winger Pedro Neto as a potential replacement for Savinho. The Brazilian’s future is uncertain, and City are already planning for life without him. Neto, with his direct running and Premier League experience, has emerged as the preferred solution.

Chelsea, though, hold the cards on both players. City may want a reunion. Getting it done at those numbers is another story entirely.

Spurs move for Balogun in €60m play

North London is stirring too.

Tottenham Hotspur have laid the foundations for talks over a move for AS Monaco and USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, according to L’Equipe. The deal could climb to an estimated €60 million, a fee that underlines just how highly the 25-year-old is rated across Europe.

Interest in Balogun has been steady all summer, with clubs in England and Spain closely tracking him. Newcastle United are the only other club specifically named in the French report as being in the mix.

Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano adds another twist: Galatasaray and several Saudi Pro League sides have also made calls about Balogun in recent days. The market around him is crowded. Tottenham have moved first with structure and intent, but they will not have the stage to themselves for long.

Arsenal prospect offered to Manchester United

Manchester United’s rebuild could take an unexpected turn.

Defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to United as Arsenal look to claw back some of the £75 million they spent on Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães, reports The Guardian. The 19-year-old’s prospective value is thought to be around £45 million.

Chelsea have also been informed of Lewis-Skelly’s availability, though it remains unclear whether they will act on that information.

For United, Lewis Hall of Newcastle remains the primary target at left-back. Manager Matthias Jaissle, however, is determined to keep the 21-year-old after already losing Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon. Newcastle’s stance only increases the intrigue around Lewis-Skelly’s next move.

Al Nassr circle Mike Maignan

Saudi Arabia’s push for elite talent has reached the San Siro.

Al Nassr are showing interest in AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Questions have started to surface over Maignan’s long-term future in Milan, and a face-to-face meeting is planned to clarify the positions of both player and club.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr are searching for a new No. 1 to replace Bento. Maignan, 31, would fit the bill as an instant leader at the back, but it is not yet known whether he would be willing to make the move to the Saudi Pro League.

Barcelona manoeuvre: Ferran, Rodri and Bernal

Barcelona are working on two fronts: departures and arrivals.

Ferran Torres has been given permission to stay away from the training ground while the club negotiate his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, a source told ESPN. The forward had been due back on Wednesday after three weeks off, having scored the winning goal in the World Cup final for Spain.

At the same time, Barça remain optimistic about signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri. A source told ESPN that they failed with an opening offer of around €50 million last week but negotiations with City are ongoing. The Catalan club also plan to offer Marc Bernal an improved contract as they try to lock down one of their brightest young talents.

Done deals

Chelsea have completed the signing of Rayo Vallecano left-back Pep Chavarria in a £16.3 million move, adding depth and energy on the flank.

Crystal Palace have secured Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, with an option to make the transfer permanent. It’s a low-risk move with potential upside for Palace’s evolving squad.

Around Europe: deals, talks and pressure points

The rumour mill is spinning hard across the continent:

• Free agent striker Dusan Vlahovic has reached a verbal agreement with Besiktas. (Florian Plettenberg)
• Fenerbahce have an agreement with Napoli for Romelu Lukaku in a deal worth over €6 million plus bonuses. (Matteo Moretto)
• Tottenham have registered interest in Atalanta centre-back Giorgio Scalvini. (Nicolo Schira)
• Manchester United are weighing up opening talks with Club Brugge over a potential £30 million move for Joaquin Seys. (The Mirror)
• Paris Saint-Germain have agreed a deal in principle with Parma for a €35 million package to sign Zion Suzuki, with the plan to immediately loan him to Juventus. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Borussia Dortmund are close to sending an offer worth €50 million plus €5 million in add-ons for Köln winger Said El Mala, who has already agreed personal terms. (Florian Plettenberg)
• Roma have reached a verbal agreement with Porto for a loan for Rodrigo Mora worth around €7 million, including an option that becomes an obligation under certain conditions. (Sky Sports Italia)
• Como refuse to give up on Fiorentina striker Moise Kean and will make new contacts soon. (Matteo Moretto)
• Lazio are in talks with Inter Milan over Davide Frattesi on a loan with a conditional obligation to buy. (Matteo Moretto)
• Everton want to bring Kyle Walker back to the Premier League after the right-back’s relegation with Burnley. (The Sun)
• Napoli are expected to push forward in negotiations for Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile, with an initial loan under discussion. (Fabrizio Romano)
• 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. (Nicolo Schira)
• 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 clubs in Italy. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Brentford are preparing a fresh bid for West Ham United left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, with a package close to £40 million being lined up. (TEAMtalk)

The numbers are rising, the names are getting bigger, and the leverage battles are sharpening.

The next move belongs to the clubs brave enough to pay the premium now—or risk watching their targets disappear into someone else’s dressing room.