Enzo Maresca is wasting no time putting his stamp on Manchester City’s squad, with the new Cityzens boss reportedly targeting two familiar faces from his Stamford Bridge days. The Italian tactician has set his sights on Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto, hoping to lure both players to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
Maresca, who coached the pair during his tenure at Chelsea, sees them as key pieces in his Manchester City project. According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, both Fernandez and Neto have emerged as priority targets for the Premier League champions as the transfer window heats up.
The pursuit of Fernandez, however, comes with a hefty price tag. Chelsea’s £120 million valuation of the Argentine World Cup winner is proving to be a significant obstacle for City’s recruitment team. While the interest is genuine, whether the club is willing to meet such demands remains to be seen.
Neto’s potential arrival, meanwhile, appears more straightforward. The Portuguese winger is being viewed as a natural successor to Savinho, who is reportedly on the verge of completing a move to Tottenham Hotspur. With Savinho’s departure looking increasingly likely, Maresca sees Neto as the ideal reinforcement to maintain City’s attacking firepower.
Neto, who made the switch from Wolves to Chelsea in 2024, has shown flashes of brilliance in west London but has struggled with consistency and injuries. Fernandez, a marquee signing from Benfica in 2022, has been a regular fixture in Chelsea’s midfield despite the club’s turbulent recent seasons.
Both players would bring proven Premier League experience to a City side looking to bounce back after a challenging campaign. With Maresca now at the helm, the summer window promises to be a defining period for Manchester City’s ambitions.
