The Guardiola era is over. The Maresca era has not yet begun. And yet Manchester City are already making the kind of decisive moves that suggest the transition will be swift, maybe even ruthless.
The defining story of the week is Enzo Maresca's first major squad call from a distance: Savinho is expendable. The 22-year-old Brazilian, once heralded as a long-term piece of City's attacking puzzle, is reportedly being lined up for a £60m sale, with Everton's Iliman Ndiaye identified as the replacement (8). This is not a tweak. This is a statement. Maresca wants a different profile, a player who can operate across the front line and in the ten, and Ndiaye fits that brief. The World Cup looms as both a showcase and a risk: a strong tournament drives the price up, though it also invites competition (8).
Gvardiol locked down, and what it signals
While attack is getting reshaped, the defensive spine is being secured. Josko Gvardiol is close to signing a new contract, effectively ending Real Madrid's long-standing interest (1) (2). This matters enormously. In a summer of change, keeping the 24-year-old Croatian is non-negotiable. He has been City's most consistent defender across the last two seasons, and his presence gives Maresca a foundation to build around. The club understands the assignment: lose Gvardiol and the rebuild becomes a salvage operation.
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The right-back question remains open
Pedro Porro was the name on every fan's lips early in the week, but that door has slammed shut. He has signed a new Tottenham contract through 2031, untouchable despite City's interest (3). Attention has now pivoted to Chelsea's Malo Gusto, with City reportedly making recent inquiries (5). The right-back position is a problem Maresca inherits. Kyle Walker is 36, and the succession plan has not materialised organically. Gusto, or someone like him, feels urgent.
Doku's moment and De Bruyne's endorsement
Away from transfers, Jérémy Doku is stepping into the spotlight. Kevin De Bruyne delivered a ringing endorsement ahead of Belgium's World Cup opener Monday against Egypt, calling Doku impossible to mark one-on-one for 90 minutes and praising his improved efficiency in the final third (4). This is not empty teammate praise. De Bruyne does not hand out compliments casually. Doku's trajectory matters because if Savinho leaves and Ndiaye arrives, the Belgian winger becomes the primary ball-carrier in wide areas, a role he now looks ready to own.
The midfield puzzle
The Enzo Fernandez links refuse to die, though Chelsea's £120m asking price makes City's interest feel performative rather than practical (7). More telling is the Elliot Anderson pursuit, which has reportedly drawn concern from Kyle Walker, who wants the club to reconsider (6) (9). Anderson, at 23, represents a different kind of signing: domestic, Premier League-proven, and presumably available for a fraction of the Fernandez fee. Maresca appears to favour this profile, and that tells its own story about how the post-Guardiola squad will be constructed.
What to watch for
Ndiaye at the World Cup is the immediate focus. Every touch, every goal, every moment of influence will either convince City to move fast or complicate the deal entirely. The tournament also offers Doku a platform to prove De Bruyne right on the biggest stage. Back home, the Gvardiol contract signature is the formality City fans are waiting for. The Maresca era has not kicked a ball yet, but it is already taking shape, and the decisions being made are sharper and more decisive than many expected.
