Enzo Maresca begins work on Manchester City transfer plans and pre-season | OneFootball

Incoming Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is already working directly with the club’s sporting director Hugo Viana on plans for the summer and next season.

The acceleration of backroom operation changes comes as the dust begins to settle on a season-defining week for Manchester City after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth officially surrendered the Premier League title race to Arsenal.

With serious doubts looming of Guardiola’s willingness to see out the final year of his existing contract, the club’s hierarchy is now well underway with plans for the new campaign and particularly an era expected to be led by Enzo Maresca.

With Guardiola still insisting that he is to sit down with Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak to resolve his personal timeline, widespread reports indicate that a decision has already been made and a successor in place.

Enzo Maresca’s immediate involvement is likely designed to bypass any sort of bedding in period, with Hugo Viana – who succeeded Txiki Begiristain last summer – facing another major summer with a number of key alterations expected throughout the playing squad.

With veteran midfielder Bernardo Silva and defensive star John Stones on their way out – alongside speculation linking the likes of Josko Gvardiol, James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez with uncertainty – Maresca’s hands-on planning provides clarity before the transfer window officially opens.

Enzo Maresca begins unofficial Manchester City work

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Enzo Maresca has already started working on Manchester City’s summer transfer activity and pre-season planning before his impending appointment as Pep Guardiola’s successor.

Sources briefed on the situation state that the Italian manager has already been ‘collaborating’ closely with Etihad Stadium sporting director Hugo Viana for pre-season, the 2026/27 campaign, and beyond in preparation to take over.

Prioritising continuity over a superstar candidate

The early coordination between Enzo Maresca and Hugo Viana highlights the highly-structured nature of City Football Group’s blueprint, and the succession plan Manchester City are aiming for when it comes to their greatest challenge yet under the Abu Dhabi ownership.

Rather than awaiting a superstar candidate to fill the shoes of their greatest-ever manager, the 46-year-old Italian coach is a profile who holds an intimate knowledge of the club’s infrastructure owing to his history at the Etihad Stadium.

Having previously led City’s Elite Development Squad to a Premier League 2 title before serving as Pep Guardiola’s primary lieutenant during the historic 2023 Treble campaign, Enzo Maresca requires no acclimatisation period to understand the demands of the Etihad campus.

This reported proactive approach is likely to be critical given the immense challenge that awaits, and Maresca’s immediate focus with Viana will likely centre around identifying midfield players capable of executing Guardiola’s system – which City would prefer to continue with.