City are reportedly still exploring moves for all three Chelsea players as Enzo Maresca looks towards his former club during the final fortnight of the transfer window.
Malo Gusto, Enzo Fernández and Pedro Neto are all on City’s radar, according to TEAMtalk, although the three potential deals are at very different stages.
Fernández and Neto have already featured prominently in City’s summer plans.
The fresh part concerns Gusto, with City now reported to have made renewed contact with Chelsea after initially enquiring about the France international earlier in the window.
Maresca looking towards former Chelsea players
Gusto worked under Maresca at Stamford Bridge and is understood to be open to joining City.
The 23-year-old would provide competition for Matheus Nunes at right-back, although Chelsea’s valuation remains a considerable obstacle. Reports this summer have put their asking price at around £75m.
Fernández is the biggest potential deal of the three.
City have been in contact over the Argentina midfielder but declined to meet Chelsea’s £120m asking price before a deadline imposed by the London club last week. Chelsea subsequently expected him to stay, although interest from City has not disappeared.
Neto, meanwhile, has been considered as City assess their options on the wing, particularly with Savinho’s future uncertain.
Chelsea are now reported to value the Portugal international at close to £100m, a figure City are not expected to meet.
Taken together, the three names make for an intriguing pattern.
Maresca knows each player from his two seasons at Chelsea and would require little introduction to what they could offer his City side.
That does not mean a triple deal is likely. At the valuations being discussed, signing all three would cost approaching £300m.
But City’s interest in three of Maresca’s former players provides another indication of how much influence the new manager is having on the rebuild at the Etihad.
