Enzo Maresca has provided his clearest indication yet that City will not make a move for Enzo Fernandez today, while refusing to rule out further changes to his midfield before the transfer window closes.
City have been strongly linked with Fernandez, with Chelsea demanding £120 million for the Argentina international.
Chelsea had set a 5pm Friday deadline for any club wishing to meet that valuation.
Maresca, speaking ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield against Arsenal, suggested City will not meet it.
Asked whether he expected City to do any transfer business before the deadline, he said: “Not today, to be honest. I don’t think we’re going to do something today.”
Maresca refuses to discuss Fernandez
Maresca was then asked directly about Fernandez, who he previously managed at Chelsea.
The City boss was unwilling to be drawn into the speculation.
“He is a player from another club and I don’t think it’s correct to talk about other players,” Maresca said.
“I’m not going to say anything about players who are not with us.”
That does not necessarily mean City’s interest has ended, particularly with the transfer window remaining open until September 1.
‘Anything can happen’ with Rodri
The more intriguing comments, however, came when Maresca was asked about Rodri.
The midfielder returned to City’s training ground on Friday following his extended break after Spain’s World Cup triumph and subsequent back surgery.
Maresca said he had given Rodri “a big hug” and that the midfielder “looks good”, but refused to offer any certainty over his future.
“The transfer window is open, we can buy players, we can sell players, anything can happen,” he said.
Barcelona have already had two bids rejected for Rodri and are expected to return with another offer.
City still expect more movement
Maresca also acknowledged that there is further work to do with the squad.
“For sure there are things we need to do,” he said. “How many, I don’t know — it can be one, it can be two. It depends also if players are going to leave.”
That is particularly relevant with Tijjani Reijnders set to leave for Al-Qadsiah and uncertainty surrounding several other players.
For now, though, Maresca’s focus is elsewhere.
With City facing Arsenal in Cardiff on Sunday, he made clear that the Community Shield is his immediate priority.
The transfer window, as his comments suggest, can wait.
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