Man City has spend £458m on midfield rebuild

Manchester City have completed a major squad overhaul under new manager Enzo Maresca, spending a Premier League-record £458m during the summer transfer window.

The biggest changes have come in midfield, with City signing Enzo Fernandez for £125m, Elliot Anderson for £116m and 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi for £86m.

However, despite the huge investment, one significant question remains: have City left themselves without enough cover for Erling Haaland?

Manchester City completely overhaul midfield

Maresca has received strong backing from director of football Hugo Viana during his first transfer window since replacing Pep Guardiola.

City’s midfield has been transformed following the departures of captain Bernardo Silva, 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez.

Fernandez, Anderson and Bouaddi account for the majority of City’s major summer spending, with the club believing all three can play important roles in Maresca’s system.

City had already accelerated their rebuilding plans earlier in the year, bringing in long-term targets Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi during the January window.

Only four players from the squad that beat Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final now remain.

The club believe the squad is stronger than it was at the beginning of last season and are pleased with the way their transfer strategy has developed.

Maresca faces midfield selection dilemma

City’s new midfield options give Maresca considerable tactical flexibility.

The manager has used both a box midfield and a diamond during the opening matches of the season.

Against Bournemouth, Guehi partnered Anderson at the base of midfield, with Nico O’Reilly and Rico Lewis operating further forward.

Against Crystal Palace, Josko Gvardiol and O’Reilly operated ahead of Anderson alongside Rayan Cherki in a diamond structure.

Anderson’s role at the base of midfield suggests Maresca sees him as a potential successor to Rodri.

Bouaddi, meanwhile, is viewed as a long-term prospect, with Maresca stressing the youngster’s age despite praising his ability.

The teenager has already shown that he can operate in different midfield positions, while Mateo Kovacic also offers flexibility between deeper and more advanced roles.

Fernandez provides another versatile option, having played at the base of midfield as well as in attacking midfield positions.

The number 10 role has largely been shared by Phil Foden and Cherki, although Foden’s ability to operate as a box-to-box midfielder could allow Maresca to use both players centrally.

City have recouped £334m in sales

Despite the enormous spending, City’s overall transfer balance is less dramatic than the headline figures suggest.

The club have spent £542m on new signings since the start of the year but have recouped £334m through player sales.

That includes £75m for Savinho, £65m for Rodri and £52m for Reijnders.

City’s net spend in 2026 therefore stands at £208m, with a further £60m expected from Tottenham’s obligation to buy Omar Marmoush at the end of his loan spell next season.

The club had been working on a one-out, one-in approach and managed to replace almost every major departure apart from Nico Gonzalez and Marmoush.

Have Manchester City overlooked Haaland cover?

The biggest concern surrounding City’s squad is further forward.

Haaland is now the club’s only established first-team striker.

The Norway international remains central to City’s plans after finishing last season as the Premier League’s top scorer with 27 goals. He has also started the new campaign with two goals in his first two games.

But City will need alternatives if Haaland is unavailable.

Marmoush was allowed to join Tottenham after wanting regular first-team football, while 21-year-old Divin Mubama joined Southampton on loan following an encouraging pre-season.

City believe they have enough flexibility within the squad to cover the position without directly replacing Marmoush.

Antoine Semenyo, who primarily operates from the right wing, is considered an option at number nine after playing there during cup matches last season.

Deadline-day signing Ndiaye can also operate centrally and provides additional attacking versatility and Premier League experience.

However, there is a potential concern with their goalscoring numbers.

Of City’s forward, attacking midfield and wide options, Semenyo is the only player to have scored more than 10 Premier League goals in either of the last two seasons.

Cherki, Jeremy Doku and Ndiaye have never reached that figure, while Foden has previously scored 19 league goals in a season but has struggled for consistent form over the past two campaigns.

That could become an important issue if Haaland needs to be rested or suffers an injury.

City have strengthened – but one question remains

Manchester City’s summer spending has dramatically reshaped Maresca’s squad, particularly in midfield.

Fernandez, Anderson and Bouaddi give the manager a range of options and should provide greater depth after several major departures.

The club also believe their recruitment strategy has left them with two established players in almost every position.

But Haaland remains the exception.

City have chosen flexibility rather than a direct replacement for Marmoush, leaving Semenyo, Ndiaye, Foden and others as potential solutions if their main striker is unavailable.

For now, the strategy appears to be working, with City winning their opening two Premier League matches.

But whether their decision not to sign another established striker becomes a problem could be one of the biggest questions of their season.