If Manchester City can nail the final days of the transfer window they’ll give Maresca everything he needs

Manchester City have made a promising start to the 2026-27 Premier League. They dispatched Crystal Palace 4-1 at Selhurst Park last night to make it two wins from their opening two Premier League fixtures. City have played well in their wins over Bournemouth and Crystal Palace but in the background to matters on the pitch, City still have work to do in the transfer market before the summer transfer window closes. If Manchester City can nail their business in the transfer market, they’ll give Enzo Maresca everything he needs to prosper.

A look at the Manchester City bench last night showed the work that City have to do in the transfer market.

On the pitch, Manchester City have started this season brightly. They have picked up two wins in their opening two Premier League matches and there is an exciting vibe around Enzo Maresca’s side and the attacking football they are playing. There is still plenty of work to do and plenty of room for improvement in this new-look City side, and also there will be hiccups to come. That is all part of the process. Off the pitch, Enzo Maresca’s squad does lack depth. Adding more quality to Maresca’s squad is now the highest priority for the Manchester City hierarchy.

Enzo Maresca named a youthful bench for last night’s match. Gerónimo Rulli, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic were the experienced players amongst the substitutes. Ayyoub Bouaddi was also on the bench but he is a first team player but he has only just arrived at Manchester City. Vitor Reis was also a substitute and he will eventually play more minutes this season and he looms as a valuable squad player for City.

Kaden Braithwaite, Ryan McAidoo, and Claudio Echeverri were the other three substitutes. There was a youthful look to City’s bench when you also factor in the age of Bouaddi and Vitor Reis despite their roles in the City squad. In the case of McAidoo, Braithwaite and Echeverri, they are exceptionally talented players but you wouldn’t expect them to play major roles across this season. So the need for City to further bolster Enzo Maresca’s squad ia clear.

Help is on the way and City will be busy trying to fill several holes in their squad before the transfer window closes.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Palmeiras winger Allan is in Manchester to put the final touches on his move from Palmeiras to Manchester City. The arrival of the 22-year-old hard working and technically proficient winger will add another option on the wing for Enzo Maresca to utilise. That is one box ticked off. There are other areas of the City squad that need to be bolstered.

Manchester City do need a backup for Erling Haaland. With Omar Marmoush out on loan at Tottenham, that is another pressing need for City to quickly address. Also, Manchester City need another midfielder, possibly two.

It has been reported this morning by Fabrizio Romano that City have agreed personal terms with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. As of yet, City haven’t submitted a bid to Chelsea to sign the combative midfielder Romano adds. That bid is expected to arrive relatively soon. If that move comes together, that would be another box ticked off. Perhaps City may move for another midfielder just to round off Enzo Maresca’s squad and give him the squad he desires.

Having won their first two matches of the new Premier League season, Manchester City have made a promising start to the new campaign. You can almost see the picture that Enzo Maresca is trying to paint. Now it is up to the City hierarchy to nail the final days of the transfer window to give their new manager the squad he desires. If that goal can be achieved, City will have themselves right where they want to be to launch into the 2026-27 season.