Man City 2026-27 Squad Audit: Where Does Enzo Maresca Need Reinforcements?

With Manchester City about to start a Premier League campaign without Pep Guardiola in the dugout for the first time in over 10 years, we look at where his replacement, Enzo Maresca, may need reinforcements before 23 August.

Change is afoot on the blue side of Manchester.

The rock of Manchester City’s success, their constant for the previous 10 seasons, Pep Guardiola, has moved on from his role as manager. One of his many protégés, Enzo Maresca, was chosen as his successor.

Maresca inherited a City squad rich in quality but which ultimately came up short in the Premier League last season, as they dropped the joint-fourth-most points from winning positions (20) and gained just five points from losing positions in the league.

Expectations will be high once again, however, with City heading into the 2026-27 Premier League season aiming to at least challenge for the title.

But what areas does director of football Hugo Viana need to improve for them to reclaim their throne as the kings of English football?

Goalkeeper and Defence

City’s goalkeeping stocks last season were excellent.

In Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford, they had two of the best goalkeepers in the country on their books – Donnarumma’s save percentage of 72.1% was the best of any keeper to play at least five Premier League games, and Trafford prevented 2.14 goals (according to Opta’s expected goals on target (xGOT) metric) in just six FA Cup games.

It quickly became clear Trafford wasn’t content with being a cup goalkeeper, though, and he is reportedly set to join Leeds United, meaning City will be left with Donnarumma and Marcus Bettinelli, nominally a third-choice goalkeeper, as their options between the sticks.

Signing another shot-stopper is a must, then.

Perhaps the main area of concern in City’s defensive third, however, is at right-back.

Matheus Nunes thrived in his new role on the right of the defence, having more touches than any of his teammates (2,886) and making more tackles than any City player (40). But he can’t play every minute of every game.

His deputy, Rico Lewis, struggled last season and was even missing from matchday squads towards the end of the campaign. Maresca’s arrival might give the 21-year-old a new lease of life, though the Italian may also not want to gamble on Lewis coming good.

City don’t necessarily have to look externally to fill the right-back void. They are well stacked at centre-back, an area that seemingly requires no reinforcing, so it’s possible Abdukodir Khusanov could fill in at times, as he did on occasion under Guardiola.

After it had been their ‘weak point’ for years, City now look very strong at left-back.

Nico O’Reilly was excellent in his first full season with the senior team. Something of a unique talent, he combined a positive mentality with his physicality to generate 2.27 expected goals (xG) from headers, the sixth most of any Premier League defender.

He will be backed up by Rayan Aït-Nouri and, if needed, Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian, who had the third-highest tackle-success rate of any City player to play at least 500 league minutes last season (72.2%), has just signed a new contract and will be hoping to reestablish himself as a key player after missing most of 2026 through injury.

As previously mentioned, Maresca has an embarrassment of riches at centre-back. As well as Khusanov and Gvardiol, Marc Guéhi and Rúben Dias will be pushing for a starting spot at the heart of the defence. Vitor Reis, who made the fourth-most headed clearances of any player in La Liga last season, may even be kept around.

Central Midfield

One major midfield reinforcement has already arrived at the Etihad, Elliot Anderson. The England international, who joined City for a reported club-record fee of £116 million, won possession on at least 10 occasions in 11 Premier League games last season, more than any other player. He’s sure to replace the steel that Bernardo Silva gave City’s midfield; the Portuguese won possession 146 times in the Premier League last season, second only to Nunes (169 times).

But every other City midfielder has question marks over their head for one reason or another.

Rodri has just bossed the FIFA World Cup, leading Spain to glory, winning the Golden Ball award and making by far the most passes of any player in a single edition of the tournament (811). However, he’s just had back surgery and is set to undergo a “short period of rehabilitation”. Additionally, if reports are to be believed, Real Madrid are trying to pry him away from Manchester.

This season very much feels like a ‘sink or swim’ campaign for City’s other Spanish midfielder, Nico González.

Although his output is similar to Rodri in terms of defensive actions, duels, progressive carries and passes, what’s been lacking in his game is attacking threat or influence. He showed that he could contribute in this manner at Porto, for whom he registered 12 goal contributions in the first half of the 2024-25 season. He now needs to take his game to the next level in the Premier League, if he gets the chance.

Mateo Kovacic missed most of last season due to injuries but still holds value as one of the tidiest midfield players in the top flight. During the 2024-25 campaign, no midfielder who played 1,000+ minutes made more successful passes per 90 than him (71.2); Kovacic also had a passing accuracy of 91.4% in the opposition’s half, ranking fifth among Premier League players to play 1,000+ minutes.

Given Kovacic also offers vast experience, it seems likely he will stick around for another season.

The same cannot be said for Tijjani Reijnders.

He marked his Premier League debut with a goal and assist, but things gradually went downhill from there. Reijnders is an excellent midfield runner – he made 117 runs in behind in the league last season, ranking third among City players – but he lacked the steel required of a Premier League midfielder.

The Dutchman is probably best utilised in the number 10 position, though this means he will have to fight an almost unwinnable battle against Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden, leaving his position at the Etihad in doubt.

Then there are two wildcards to add to the midfield conundrum: O’Reilly and Lewis. O’Reilly came through the City Football Academy playing in a more central role, and Lewis was deployed in midfield by Guardiola at times. Perhaps one of them could fill this squad gap.

City’s midfield is the area where Viana may have to take a risk. They have many players who could perform well this season, but they could do with another option in case these players all flatter to deceive.

Attacking Midfield

The quality among the current regular starters in attacking midfield and out wide is clear to see, but strength in depth is arguably lacking.

Jérémy Doku made a clear step forward last season, scoring more goals and tallying more assists in all competitions than he had in any prior season of his senior career.

Similarly, Cherki shone during his debut Premier League campaign. He did an excellent job of filling the void left by Kevin De Bruyne, creating 3.02 chances per 90, the second most of any top-flight player to play 1,000+ minutes.

Although his (half) season somewhat tailed off from March onwards, Antoine Semenyo showed promise, ending the season as City’s joint-second-highest Premier League scorer alongside Foden (seven goals).

Speaking of, City’s number 47 could be rejuvenated in 2026-27. Having recently extended his contract until 2030, Maresca’s arrival may help him recapture the form he showed during he 2023-24 season, when he scored 27 goals in all competitions. Foden could be utilised on the flanks but will be eager to push past Cherki as City’s first-choice number 10.

Behind that quartet, however, City are lacking.

Savinho struggled last season, playing a mere 821 Premier League minutes and recording just one goal and one assist. The Brazilian showed promise in 2024-25, registering 6.1 expected assists (xA), the second most of any City player, but he has reportedly expressed his desire to leave the Etihad this summer.

Meanwhile, £100m man Jack Grealish has returned after his loan stint at Everton. He still hasn’t fully recovered from the foot injury that has kept him out since January, and he missed out on the travelling squad for City’s pre-season tour. Consequently, he may not have the opportunity to convince Maresca he deserves a second chance at the Etihad.

Youngsters Divine Mukasa, Jeremy Monga and Claudio Echeverri are all well positioned to take any squad rotation spots that may be available, but at least one more top-level attacker needs to come through the door for City to compete at the highest level next season.

Striker

The easiest position to audit for City. When Erling Haaland is fit, he plays. It’s really that simple.

The big Norwegian registered 1.06 goal contributions per 90 in the Premier League last season, by far the best of any player (1,000+ mins) in England’s top flight. Haaland’s 35 combined goals and assists in the league also ranked him second across Europe’s top five leagues.

Unlike Haaland, City’s other striker, Omar Marmoush, stalled last season, failing to build on the promise he showed at the back end of the 24-25 campaign.

No doubt an excellent player technically, but Marmoush didn’t look like he could mentally handle being out of the starting XI on a regular basis. He played a mere 699 Premier League minutes last season, down from 1,182 minutes the previous campaign, when he only joined in January.

The Egyptian also looked a shadow of himself during the World Cup, only registering one shot on target and failing to find the net in 326 minutes. In Egypt’s final game of the tournament, Mostafa Ziko, who plays for Pyramids FC, was preferred to Marmoush up top.

Marmoush’s saving grace is perhaps the same thing that led him into this difficult run of form – Haaland. City aren’t overly fussed about reinforcing their frontline when they already have probably the best finisher in the world, meaning the Egyptian may get another chance to prove his worth this season.

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