Enzo Maresca wants Manchester City to be active in the transfer market before the Premier League starts against Bournemouth next weekend.
City’s 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield laid bare the need for central midfield reinforcements, with a move for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi nearing completion.
Barcelona are trying to push through a deal to land £70million-rated Rodri over the coming days, with the Spain captain not in Cardiff with Maresca’s squad on Sunday.
City still hold an interest in Enzo Fernandez, despite the Friday deadline to lodge a £120million bid having passed without a formal offer being made.
‘He [Bouaddi] is still a Lille player,’ Maresca said. ‘Any new signing, the sooner they arrive the better because we are starting the Premier League in one week.
‘And if they start to work with us as soon as possible it’s better that they can also understand the way we want to play.’
Enzo Maresca has called for more transfer activity after Man City’s 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield
Man City are closing on a deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi, but Barcelona are expected to make another push this week to sign £70m-rated Rodri
Bouaddi – who was named on the bench as Lille drew at Everton on Saturday – has given the green light to joining City. Lille boss Davide Ancelotti has confirmed that there were negotiations between the clubs.
Tijjani Reijnders is leaving the Etihad Stadium, going to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia for £52m, and Maresca admitted that there is business that City need to do in the coming fortnight if they are to compete for the biggest trophies.
Rodri’s absence could be construed as significant given the 30-year-old routinely attended City matches when injured last season.
‘Rodri is a player who just won the World Cup and Ballon d’Or,’ Maresca added. ‘He’s a top player, all the teams need a player like Rodri so it’s not about if we miss Rodri or not.’
City decided to start Elliot Anderson, Nico O’Reilly, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland despite only returning to training in midweek.
‘Elliot was quite good for his first game. We decided to start with four [players] who had just two or three sessions.
‘The reason why was also because sometimes players prefer to start from the beginning. The plan was to change all of them after 45 minutes or an hour maximum.’
City started sluggishly, conceding the opening goal inside the first 60 seconds, and Maresca criticised how his side did not appear ‘switched on’ from kick off. Captain Ruben Dias claimed the performance was ‘frustrating’.
‘It’s not good enough, many things are changing obviously, a new manager as well,’ Dias said. ‘The way the game starts sets you off, they get comfortable into their game.
‘If there is a lesson to be learned in a final, let it be this one because there are a lot more coming. But in the end as well, this is just starting, and the most important is we’re already looking forward and we’ll be ready for our next game.’
