Enzo Maresca Addresses Transfer Speculation Amid Deadline

Enzo Maresca has moved to cool talk of late drama in the market, insisting Manchester City are not planning any business on Friday despite the ticking clock on a move for Enzo Fernandez.

City have been heavily linked with the Chelsea and Argentina midfielder, but the window for any serious push is closing fast. Chelsea have set a firm 5pm BST deadline on Friday, August 14, for bids to land on their desk, and they want £120million to even consider a sale.

That has not shifted Maresca’s stance.

Speaking ahead of City’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal this weekend, the Italian was pressed on whether fans should brace for a reunion with Fernandez, whom he worked with previously, or any surprise arrival before the day is out.

“Not today, to be honest. I don't think we're going to do something today,” he said in his Friday morning press conference.

He shut the door just as firmly on the Fernandez talk itself.

“In this moment, again, I have to give you the same answer since day one. It will always be the same. It's a player from another club, I don't think it's correct to talk about him.

“At the same time, I don't think it's correct for other clubs to speak about our players. That's why I'm not going to say anything about players that aren't with us.”

So while the noise around Fernandez grows louder and the Chelsea deadline looms, City’s head coach is publicly keeping his hands off the wheel.

One deal, though, is moving quickly.

Maresca expects Tijjani Reijnders’ switch to Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah to be wrapped up shortly, after an agreement worth £51.2m was reached on Thursday.

“Tij is not officially done, but we'll see in the next hour,” Maresca said. “I already spoke with him a few times in pre-season, then we will see if he is going to leave or if he is going to stay.

“In the way he was playing in the pre-season games, I was quite happy with his performance overall. I know Tij from Italy, from Milan when he was there so I know him quite well.

“I know there he was playing in a different position, he likes to play a little more deep rather than high up the pitch, but again in the pre-season he was good, then we'll see what happens and we'll decide.”

No promises, no fanfare. A hard deadline at Chelsea, a looming exit to Saudi Arabia, and a Community Shield meeting with Arsenal on the horizon. City’s summer, and Maresca’s new era, are already being shaped by the deals he chooses not to make.