Enzo Maresca's appointment as the new Manchester City manager is understood to be imminent, with reports emerging that the Italian has held private discussions with outgoing boss Pep Guardiola about the squad he is set to inherit.

Guardiola brought the curtain down on a remarkable ten-year spell at the Etihad Stadium, one that delivered six Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League trophy, and multiple domestic cup victories. His final Premier League campaign, however, ended in disappointment — Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, a former Guardiola assistant, pipped City to the title at the last.

Bridging the gap between two eras

According to The Athletic, Maresca and Guardiola have been in direct contact about the current Manchester City squad, with the incoming manager keen to understand what structures and playing principles are already in place before taking charge.

Building on the foundations Guardiola established at the club appears to be central to Maresca's thinking, rather than dismantling what has been one of the most dominant footballing operations in English football history.

The Italian's primary focus is reported to be on connecting with the existing squad and embedding his own philosophy — not chasing transfer business. Director of football Hugo Viana will lead Manchester City's recruitment strategy, with a right-back, central midfielder, and winger identified as the top priorities.

Departures and transfer targets

Maresca faces a reshaped squad from the outset. Long-serving veterans Bernardo Silva and John Stones both departed at the end of the 2025/26 season, in which Manchester City won both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup. Should Maresca become involved in transfer discussions, his main focus will be finding a suitable replacement for Silva — with Elliot Anderson emerging as the club's primary target for that role.

On the outgoing side, Nico Gonzalez is considered the most likely departure, though a longer list of players including Tijani Reijnders, Nathan Ake, James Trafford, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho, and Omar Marmoush could also leave the Etihad this summer.

Despite the departures of Silva and Stones on free transfers, the club's finances are described as healthy, and those exits are not expected to restrict summer spending. Manchester City have also shown willingness to plan ahead — mirroring the early signing of Marc Guehi as a replacement for Stones months before the defender's departure.

Pre-season and first steps

Maresca's opening games in charge are expected to come during a pre-season tour of the Far East, though senior players are not expected to feature heavily. The club's transfer activity between now and then is anticipated to give the new manager a clearer picture of the resources at his disposal ahead of his first competitive fixtures.