Maresca Targets Chelsea Duo for City Rebuild

Manchester City’s new era under Enzo Maresca is barely underway, but the Italian is already looking back to move forward.

The former Chelsea assistant is pushing to reunite with two trusted Stamford Bridge figures, while Tottenham Hotspur circle Folarin Balogun in a deal that could reshape their attack. Across Europe, the transfer market is starting to snarl rather than just hum.

Maresca eyes Chelsea duo for City rebuild

Enzo Maresca’s first summer in charge at Manchester City is turning into a test of persuasion and financial muscle.

At the top of his list: Enzo Fernández.

The Argentina midfielder has not hidden his openness to leaving Chelsea this summer, and Maresca is reported to view him as a cornerstone for his City project. But Chelsea’s stance is blunt. According to Fabrizio Romano, the London club want around £120 million and remain keen to keep him. That price tag is the main roadblock, even for a club used to operating at the top end of the market.

Maresca’s interest does not stop there. Romano also reports that the City manager wants Chelsea winger Pedro Neto as a potential replacement for Savinho. The profile fits: direct, aggressive, and able to stretch games in wide areas. Whether Chelsea are willing to lose another key piece is a different question.

Spurs step up Balogun pursuit

In North London, Tottenham are moving.

L’Equipe reports that Spurs have laid the groundwork for talks over AS Monaco and USMNT striker Folarin Balogun in a deal that could reach an estimated €60 million. The 25-year-old has been under heavy surveillance all summer, with clubs in England and Spain tracking his situation.

Newcastle United are the only other club specifically named in the French report, while Fabrizio Romano adds that Galatasaray and several Saudi Pro League sides have also called about Balogun in recent days.

Tottenham, still refining their post-Harry Kane identity, now face a straight choice: push hard for a central striker entering his peak, or risk watching him disappear to a rival league or a domestic competitor.

Arsenal prospect offered to Manchester United

Arsenal’s summer outlay on Bruno Guimarães is already prompting knock-on decisions elsewhere in the squad.

The Guardian reports that defender Myles Lewis-Skelly has been offered to Manchester United as the Gunners look to claw back part of the £75 million they spent on the Newcastle midfielder. Chelsea have also been informed of the 19-year-old’s availability, though it is unclear whether they will move, with his valuation expected to sit around £45 million.

For United, Lewis Hall of Newcastle remains the primary left-back target. Manager Matthias Jaissle is determined to keep the 21-year-old, having already seen Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon depart. Any pursuit of Lewis-Skelly will have to be weighed against that priority.

Al Nassr circle Maignan as Milan talks loom

In Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr are looking for a new No. 1 – and they have turned their attention to one of Europe’s elite goalkeepers.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Riyadh club are showing interest in AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, with questions growing around the Frenchman’s future at San Siro. A face-to-face meeting between Maignan and Milan is expected to clarify both sides’ positions.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s club need a replacement for Bento. What remains unknown is whether the 31-year-old Maignan is prepared to swap Serie A and Champions League football for the Saudi Pro League.

Barcelona moves: Torres, Rodri and Bernal

Barcelona’s summer is unfolding on two fronts: big-name negotiations and careful squad management.

Ferran Torres has been granted permission to stay away from the training ground while Barça negotiate his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, a source told ESPN. The forward was due back on Wednesday after three weeks off, having scored the winning goal for Spain in the World Cup final. His next appearance could be in a different shirt.

Inside the club, optimism remains over another major deal. Barcelona are still confident of signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri, with a source telling ESPN they plan to return after seeing an initial bid of around €50 million rejected last week. Talks with City are ongoing.

At the same time, Barça intend to offer Marc Bernal an improved contract, underlining their desire to secure both the present and the future of their midfield.

Completed deals

Chelsea have moved early to strengthen at left-back, completing the signing of Rayo Vallecano defender Pep Chavarria in a £16.3 million deal.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have added attacking depth, bringing in Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa, with an option to make the transfer permanent.

Europe’s rumor mill keeps spinning

Across the continent, the secondary storylines are starting to look significant.

• Free agent striker Dusan Vlahovic has a verbal agreement with Besiktas. (Florian Plettenberg)
• Fenerbahce have an agreement with Napoli for Romelu Lukaku 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 talks with Club Brugge over a potential £30 million move for Joaquin Seys. (The Mirror)
• Paris Saint-Germain have a deal in principle with Parma for a €35 million package to sign Zion Suzuki, with plans to immediately loan him to Juventus. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Borussia Dortmund are close to sending a bid of €50 million plus €5 million in add-ons for Koln winger Said El Mala, who has already agreed personal terms. (Florian Plettenberg)
• Roma have reached a verbal agreement with Porto on 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 drop their pursuit of Fiorentina striker Moise Kean and will make new contact 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 his relegation with Burnley. (The Sun)
• Napoli are expected to step up negotiations with Chelsea for centre-back Benoit Badiashile, initially on a loan basis. (Fabrizio Romano)
• Juventus are ready to increase 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 left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf, building a package close to £40 million. (TEAMtalk)

Names are moving, numbers are rising, and the market is tightening.

The next question is simple: who blinks first – the clubs holding their stars, or the giants desperate to reshape their squads before the window slams shut?