Manchester City included forward Omar Marmoush and midfielder Nico Gonzalez in their matchday squad for the Premier League clash with Bournemouth, even as both players remain subjects of transfer interest. Notably absent from the squad was winger Savinho, who is on the verge of completing a move to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal reportedly worth up to £85m.
Marmoush, also a target for Spurs in a separate negotiation, was named among City's options despite the ongoing speculation. Gonzalez, meanwhile, has drawn interest from Newcastle United, who are seeking to bolster their midfield with an experienced central player.
Despite talk of departures, City boss Enzo Maresca opted to field Rico Lewis—who had also been linked with a possible exit—in midfield alongside new signing Elliot Anderson and Nico O'Reilly. The club have separately agreed an £85m fee for Lille's Ayoub Bouaddi and continue to be tied to speculation surrounding Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The Savinho deal is set to push Tottenham's summer spending beyond the £300m mark, a striking figure for a club still finding its footing under new manager Roberto De Zerbi. Spurs suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Brentford at the weekend, a result that has intensified scrutiny on the club's preparations ahead of the new campaign.
De Zerbi did not shy away from acknowledging the challenges his side faces. "I believe in my players, my club and myself. I think we are working well but we are late for the start of the Premier League," the Italian coach said. He was candid about the gaps in his team's performance against Brentford, adding: "It's a step we have to improve quickly. We could fight stronger than we did today and we lost too many duels."
Looking ahead, De Zerbi outlined a longer-term vision for instilling unity within the squad. "The target is to become (a) team. To find the spirit, the soul, is a process," he said, signaling that results may take time to align with expectations as new arrivals like Savinho and potentially Marmoush integrate into the squad.
On the other side of the negotiations, Manchester City are undergoing their own squad reshaping following Pep Guardiola's departure. The club has already seen several key figures leave, including Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Tijjani Reijnders, John Stones and Nathan Ake. Maresca addressed the situation, explaining the mentality behind player departures. "They all want to play, and when they don't play they would prefer to leave," he said.
The new City manager expressed confidence that the club would act to replace any further outgoing players. "It's always complicated when someone leaves and someone else arrives, but for sure we will need more options if players go out," Maresca said. "If some leave, some must arrive. I'm not worried or concerned. Since day one we have known exactly what we need. I am working with the club and the sporting director."
With the transfer window still open, Maresca emphasized that City's business is far from finished. "There are 10 or 11 days to go and many things can happen," he noted, hinting at further movement in both directions before the deadline.
As Tottenham finalize the Savinho deal and continue pursuing Marmoush, and as Manchester City navigate a summer of significant squad turnover, both clubs face pivotal days ahead in shaping their rosters for the new Premier League season.
Based on reporting from Independent (football).