Shot Football

Maresca vows Man City transfer activity after Community Shield defeat

ReutersReuters2 hours ago
Maresca vows Man City transfer activity after Community Shield defeat

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca says the club will continue strengthening the squad before the transfer window closes after a 3-0 Community Shield final defeat by Arsenal.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said the club would remain active in the transfer market before the ​window closes after his side suffered a 3-0 defeat ‌in his first competitive outing against Arsenal in Sunday's Community Shield.

With Spain's World Cup-winning midfielder Rodri reportedly set to leave, City have ​already spent a club-record 116 million pounds ($156.95 million) ​on Elliot Anderson.

The club is reportedly also close ⁠to signing 18-year-old Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi from French club ​Lille in a deal that could be worth 85 million ​pounds.

"We knew already before the game the things that we need to do. It's not because we lost the game or if ​we win the game we were thinking differently," Maresca ​told reporters.

"We are quite clear what we need to do and ‌for ⁠sure we are going to do something before the window closes."

Asked about Bouaddi, who was impressive at this year's World Cup, Maresca stopped short of discussing the player directly ​but indicated ​City were ⁠keen to complete any incoming deals quickly.

"He's still a Lille player. But any new signing, ​any new player, for sure as soon ​as ⁠they arrive it's better," Maresca said.

"If they start to work with us as soon as possible, it's better if they ⁠can ​also understand the way we need ​to play."

City will start their Premier League campaign at home to Bournemouth ​next Sunday.