It has been a hugely busy day at the Etihad as pre-season preparations ramp up and transfer business reaches decision points.
From record-breaking teenage deals and high-profile midfield targets to candid admissions by rival legends, here is a complete summary of today’s coverage on ReadManCity:
City hope to complete record Bouaddi signing by the weekend
Negotiations between City and Lille for 18-year-old sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi have reached their closing stages. With an initial £85m guaranteed fee (plus add-ons) on the table, the Moroccan international is set to become the most expensive teenager in football history.
City have rejected Lille’s request for a loan-back clause and want him available immediately, with a slight chance he could feature in this weekend’s Community Shield against Arsenal in Cardiff. Read our full report on how City hope to complete the record Bouaddi deal this weekend.
City Target £120m Enzo Fernández in midfield rebuild
With both Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders potentially heading for the Etihad exits before the deadline, Enzo Maresca has set his sights on a high-profile reunion with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández.
According to reporting from The Athletic‘s Sam Lee, Maresca views the 25-year-old Argentina international as an ideal fit to reshape his engine room. However, Chelsea’s steep £120m valuation and tense club-to-club relations could make negotiations complex. Read the full story on why Man City are targeting £120m Enzo Fernández as part of their midfield rebuild.
Max Alleyne heads to Burnley on straight loan
Following an agreement between the two clubs, highly rated 21-year-old central defender Max Alleyne is set to join Burnley for the 2026–27 campaign.
Crucially for Maresca’s long-term planning, the agreement is a straight loan deal with no option or obligation to buy, ensuring the ball-playing defender will return to the Etihad next summer after securing regular Championship minutes.
Paul Scholes admits he would choose City over United today
In one of the most candid admissions from an Old Trafford icon in recent years, Class of ’92 legend Paul Scholes acknowledged that if he and Nicky Butt were emerging as young players today, they would turn down Manchester United in favor of Manchester City.
Read the full reaction to Paul Scholes’ frank assessment of the shift in Manchester’s football hierarchy as he admitted the Etihad setup has become the ultimate destination for top talent.
Live summer transfer tracker updated
Our central transfer hub received a comprehensive refresh to track every moving piece across the squad. Head over to the Man City 2026 summer transfer tracker: Every deal, live for full breakdowns on James Trafford’s record switch to Leeds United, Gerónimo Rulli’s arrival as understudy, final talks for Bouaddi, and Jérémy Doku’s upcoming contract extension through to 2031.
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