Man City spend record £458m but still lack cover for Haaland

Manchester City spent a Premier League record £458m during the summer transfer window, completing a full rebuild of their midfield under new manager Enzo Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola with the full backing of director of football Hugo Viana.

The club broke its own transfer record twice in the process: first paying £125m for former Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez, then £116m for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, followed by £86m for 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi.

The departures of captain Bernardo Silva, 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez meant City's midfield has been almost entirely rebuilt. Club sources say they are pleased with a strategy that began as early as January, when Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi were signed ahead of schedule.

Net spend and player sales

Since the start of the year, City have spent £542m on new arrivals but recouped £334m through sales, including £75m for Savinho, £65m for Rodri and £52m for Reijnders. That leaves a net spend of £208m, which will rise further once Tottenham fulfil their obligation to buy Omar Marmoush for £60m at the end of his loan.

Doubts over striker cover

While the squad is seen as stronger than at the start of last season, questions remain about how the new midfield will fit together tactically. More pressingly, with Marmoush's exit and Divin Mubama's loan move to Southampton, Erling Haaland is now City's only recognised striker. The club believes Semenyo and deadline-day signing Ndiaye can cover as a number nine, though neither has a strong scoring record in that role in recent Premier League seasons.