Manchester City Pursue Enzo Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye

Manchester City opened talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and entered talks to sign Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye ahead of the August 31, 2026, summer transfer window deadline, navigating a busy period of squad restructuring under head coach Enzo Maresca.

The final stretch of the summer transfer window brought a flurry of high-stakes negotiations across the Premier League, with Manchester City emerging as a central figure in deadline-day business. As the market prepared to close at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, August 31, 2026, the club pursued major additions to reshape its midfield and forward options under the player who seems to be Maresca’s top target in this transfer window, according to Sky Sports News reporting.

Enzo Fernandez and Manchester City Midfield Reconstruction

Manchester City are considering making a bid for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez before the transfer deadline. Man City’s interest continues despite missing Chelsea’s August 14 deadline to bid for Fernandez. Chelsea spent a British-record £117m on Morgan Rogers this summer and it could take more than that for City to sign Fernandez, who is valued by the Blues at £120m after the club signed him for £107m in 2023. City are rebuilding their midfield, having sold Rodri to Barcelona for £65.4m and Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for £51m, after releasing Bernardo Silva, and with Nico Gonzalez set to join Newcastle for £50m.

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They have added Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m and, on Wednesday, signed Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86m. Sky Sports News has reported that Fernandez is a top target for City boss Enzo Maresca, who worked with the midfielder at Chelsea. The 25-year-old has six years left on his contract. Fernandez was suspended by Chelsea for two matches towards the end of last season after casting doubt over his future while on international duty amid reports of interest from Real Madrid, who subsequently ruled out a move for him in early July.

Alex Scott and Emi Martinez Transfer Speculation

Manchester City want to make more additions in midfield and are also interested in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and Roma’s Manu Kone. However, Bournemouth remain adamant that Scott is not for sale and will reject any offers for him in this window, with Chelsea also interested. Scott has two years left on his contract but has made his feelings clear by refusing offers of a new and improved deal. Chelsea are also considering a late move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez. The Argentina international’s representatives have offered Martinez to Chelsea.

Iliman Ndiaye Talks and Omar Marmoush Exit

Since replacing Pep Guardiola, Enzo Maresca has overseen a significant restructuring of the squad he inherited, with Omar Marmoush expected to become the 11th sale of the summer, as Tottenham Hotspur are closing in on a deal. Spurs are set to sign the former Eintracht Frankfurt man on an initial loan deal, but they will be obligated to make the transfer permanent for £60m next summer.

128m Alvarez DEAL🚨Enzo to Man City IMMINENT✅Kone to Liverpool & Ndiaye to City DEAL☑️ Balde Update

Man City’s summer sales included Savinho to Tottenham for £75m, Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah for £52m, Rodri to Barcelona for £65.4m, Nico Gonzalez to Newcastle for £50m, James Trafford to Leeds for £40m, Manuel Akanji to Inter Milan for £13m, Nathan Ake to Fenerbahce for £7m, and Issa Kabore to Wrexham for £2m, while Bernardo Silva and John Stones left for Real Madrid and Inter Milan respectively on free transfers. With Marmoush set to join Savinho at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, City may need to sign a new forward, and Ndiaye could be a solid option, with the Senegal international picking up 17 goals and four assists in 73 matches since signing for Everton. The 26-year-old has proven himself as a versatile forward, who is capable of playing across the front three, which could make him a viable replacement for the Egyptian, as he featured as a centre-forward and a winger during his time at the Etihad Stadium. YouTuber Jacob Horsfall lauded the 26-year-old as “sensational” last season, after he impressed in the Toffees’ 1-1 draw against Sunderland, so it is unsurprising David Moyes’ side are unwilling to sanction a sale unless they receive a big fee. Journalist Ben Jacobs also reveals that Arsenal are interested in signing the Everton star, as an alternative to Julian Alvarez, although the Gunners are prepared to make a club-record offer to ensure they get a deal.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta post-Villa offered comments on deadline day, stating: “I said, we are trying to improve the squad, and until tomorrow night we’re going to try to do that. “I’ve been disconnected from the world for 24 hours because I think my energy and focus has to be on the match. I will get back on it now. We know that the depth has to be really big when you are fighting for four competitions in the manner that we play as well. So we’re going to try to do that.

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