Enzo Maresca plotting first raid on Chelsea as Man City set for surprise £54m move

Manchester City are preparing for their first season without Pep Guardiola at the helm since 2016, as Enzo Maresca attempts to carry on from where the Spaniard left off.

Last season it appeared that under Guardiola the club were going through a transitional campaign as several of the stalwarts who collected many pieces of silverware over the years departed, while fresh faces joined the club.

Maresca will look to continue this rebuild to carry on the success the club has experienced over the past 10 years under Guardiola, and it appears he has identified one of his former Chelsea stars as a man he believes could be key to achieving these aims.

Man City announced the signing of Elliot Anderson in a £116 million deal from Nottingham Forest earlier in the summer, and now it appears Pedro Neto could be about to make the trip to the Etihad Stadium.

According to the Daily Mail, the Portuguese star is understood to be on City’s list of transfer targets, with the reason behind Maresca’s interest being down to the ‘good rapport’ he had with Neto while the pair were at Chelsea together.

Barcelona are reportedly interested in Pedro Neto (Credit:Getty)

It is also believed that City are interested in another player that Maresca used to work with at Stamford Bridge, Malo Gusto, but the £75m asking price is a value the EFL Cup champions are not willing to pay.

While Man City appear to be wanting to add to their side this summer, they could be about to lose the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, Rodri, as Real Madrid are reported to be interested in the 2026 World Cup winner.

City confirmed the £116 million signing of midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest earlier this week. When they agreed a deal, it was for a British record fee, before Chelsea signed former City academy graduate Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m on Tuesday.

Pedro Neto’s record under Enzo Maresca

Portuguese star Neto, who played at the World Cup, was signed in the first summer of Maresca’s tenure at Chelsea, and he would enjoy a fine period under the Italian coach at Stamford Bridge.

In the first season, Neto would feature in 51 matches, scoring nine goals and providing nine assists.

Maresca would leave Stamford Bridge midway through last season, with Neto still demonstrating the quality and his importance to the style the Italian wants to implement.

Neto would score six goals and assist on three occasions before Maresca left Chelsea, and so it is understandable why he would want to bring the Portuguese international to the Etihad Stadium.

The pair would collect two pieces of silverware from their time together at Chelsea, the 2025 Conference League along with the new-look Club World Cup in the same year.