Man City have held talks over a £100m Premier League star’s first signing of Maresca

Manchester City have now opened talks to sign an “absolutely amazing” Premier League star, potentially becoming Enzo Maresca’s first signing.

Maresca is expected to replace Pep Guardiola at Man City

Maresca will have big shoes to fill at the Etihad Stadium, and the Italian will replace Pep Guardiola, who won 20 trophies during his 10-year run in the Premier League.

However, with the 46-year-old now ready for the job, Paul Merson has suggested he could be Guardiola’s rightful successor, saying: “I liked him at Chelsea. I thought he was a good manager. He goes to Man City, he’s been there, he’s worked in the Premier League before. He knows some of the City players. I think he ticks all the boxes.

“He’s not coming in trying to get used to the place, he’s not coming into a league he’s never been in. I think he’ll settle in really well. They’ll need a few players. But here’s the problem: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Man United, Chelsea all need players. There aren’t that many players.”

Of course, City may need to make new additions this summer, having failed to win the Premier League in the past two seasons, and sporting director Hugo Viana has already started making moves ahead of the transfer window.

Man City are opening talks to sign the Premier League star

According to TEAMtalk, Man City are now in talks to sign Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, but the deal could be expensive, with Unai Emery’s side planning to hold out for around £100m.

The Englishman is one of the most wanted players in Europe, and City are keen to sign his contract, as Bernardo Silva is set to move on this summer.

Rogers is open to a move to the Etihad Stadium, which is promising news, while Viana wants to build a team capable of winning back the Premier League title.

Dougie Critchley of Sky Sports hailed the 23-year-old as a “very magical” player, and he has made a name for himself since joining Villa from Middlesbrough in 2023, scoring 31 goals and providing 29 assists in 125 appearances.

The Villa star is certainly a player who could get City fans off their seats, having made it clear that he is more willing to take risks than play it safe, saying: “I know people might moan and get frustrated when I lose the ball – just keeping it is not my game. It never has been. It never will be. I don’t play football to be boring, to be safe. Other players are better than me at that, that’s why they play different positions.”

With Silva set to leave, it will be important for him to strengthen in attack this summer, and Rogers has shown he is ready to step up to a club that is challenging for the Champions League.

Read next: Man City are keen to sign another Premier League star