City are closing in on a new long-term contract for Jeremy Doku, according to Fabrizio Romano, with formal steps now underway on a deal until 2031.
It’s the latest piece in a pattern that’s telling its own story around the side Enzo Maresca is building.
Doku’s extension follows closely on the heels of Phil Foden’s own new deal, and comes alongside an agreement being finalised for Abdukodir Khusanov.
Sporting director Hugo Viana has moved with intent to lock down the squad’s key players, ensuring Maresca inherits stability rather than uncertainty heading into pre-season.
A clearer picture is starting to emerge around what Maresca wants his City side to look like. Doku’s pace and directness are expected to sit at the heart of the attacking system, with the Belgian scoring eight goals and providing 14 assists in 47 appearances last season.
Retaining that threat mattered more after Bernardo Silva’s departure to Real Madrid left a gap in City’s attacking profile.
The club haven’t stood still elsewhere. Elliot Anderson, Jeremy Monga, Mathys Detourbet and Pierce Charles have all arrived this summer, giving an early sense of the squad Maresca will have at his disposal.
Locking down Doku and Khusanov alongside Foden suggests a squad built around continuity in key areas, with fresh additions layered on top rather than making wholesale change.
None of it guarantees results. But the direction of travel is clear enough: keep the core, add selectively, and hand Maresca a platform to put his own stamp on City from day one.
