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Manchester City linked with third Chelsea first-team player as Enzo Maresca eyes attacking reunion: report
Sameer Bhatia | July 27, 2026 7:22 PM CST

With the World Cup dust now settled and the Premier League season due to begin in less than a month, the transfer window has become the main attraction as clubs rush to strengthen for the new campaign.

For the first time in 10 years, Manchester City are going into the summer market with a new man in charge, after Enzo Maresca was appointed to replace Pep Guardiola in the Etihad dugout.

City have already been busy in the market, signing promising youngsters Pierce Charles and Jeremy Monga, before their £116million move for England midfielder Elliot Anderson.

It now feels like more big-money arrivals are almost certain at City, as the club aim to win their first title in three years, and the latest name linked is a familiar one for City supporters — and for new boss Maresca as well.

According to reports, Maresca is prepared to raid his former club Chelsea with a bold move for one of the Blues' most dangerous attacking players.

Pedro Neto was one of Maresca’s first signings at Stamford Bridge after his arrival in summer 2024, with the Portuguese forward playing 74 times during the coach’s 18-month spell, scoring 15 goals and providing 12 assists.

Now, Caught Offside say Maresca wants to take Neto to the Etihad, as the Italian looks to add more depth out wide.

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The report says Neto is ‘not entirely untouchable’, with the club open to hearing the right offer, which would have to be in the region of €80million. That would mean a healthy profit for the Blues, who paid €60million for the 26-year-old when they signed him from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2024.

With Chelsea already having spent heavily this summer after they broke Anderson’s short-lived British transfer record to sign his Three Lions team-mate Morgan Rogers for £117million, the London club again appear set for a hectic transfer window.

Whether they would be willing to sell Neto to a side seen as a direct rival or not could make things difficult for City, but their hopes may be helped by the fact that Chelsea have already sold defender Andrey Santos to Manchester United this summer.

From City’s point of view, the winger role could become a priority if Tottenham increase their interest in Savinho, after boss Roberto De Zerbi admitted last week that Spurs will now focus on attacking signings.

In FourFourTwo’s view, it is easy to understand why City and Maresca might move for Neto, who is valued at €60million on Transfermarket, with the Portugal international now entering his peak years after playing in England since 2019.

Liverpool have also shown interest in a move for Neto, but the chance to work again with Maresca at a time when the club are entering a new era is likely to be a major attraction for the player, provided City can persuade Chelsea to sell to a rival.


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