Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said the club knows what it needs to do before the transfer window closes. He added that there are 11 days left until the window shuts.
Key Departures
Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders have already left the club. Savinho is on the verge of completing a move to Tottenham. Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez appear highly likely to depart before the window closes. These exits have increased pressure on the squad’s depth.
Maresca’s Plan
Maresca told reporters ahead of City’s opening Premier League fixture against Bournemouth that the hierarchy is clear on the squad’s needs. "Since day one we’ve known exactly what we need and we are working together with the Sporting Director and the club," he said. He added that the number of signings is flexible: "We don’t have a minimum or maximum number. It depends a little bit. After the last game, whether we win or lose, we won’t change our perspective on how many we need. We know exactly what we need and how many we need, and then we will see." He stressed that the plan will be executed before the window closes.
Timing Challenges
The World Cup and the subsequent holidays that players had after it have stretched City’s timeline to sign players. Ideally, City would have wanted all incoming signings completed by now, but that has not happened. The club faces the possibility of paying a premium for its transfer targets, a cost it is prepared to accept. In addition, several fringe players are expected to move on after the preseason tour of Asia, which further tightens the window.
Maresca remains calm about the situation, noting that the club knows what it has to do. If the squad is not constructed by the window’s closure, the pressure will rise and the squad could appear disjointed. City’s strategy, however, is in place and the club is working to secure the reinforcements it needs before the deadline.
