Manchester City ended a frantic summer window with Enzo Fernández arriving from Chelsea for a British-record-equalling £125m, while Iliman Ndiaye followed for up to £65m. Yet Manchester City transfer news on deadline day carried another thread: three players wanted by Enzo Maresca never reached the Etihad.
Manchester City transfer news: Three misses that matter
1. Cody Gakpo
Cody Gakpo became the sharpest miss. City pushed Liverpool with an £80m offer for the Netherlands forward, and reports said Gakpo was open to the move. Liverpool refused because they had no time to secure another attacker after late business. That decision kept a 27-year-old forward with 51 goals in 182 Liverpool appearances at Anfield, leaving City to sign Ndiaye instead.
2. Pedro Neto
Pedro Neto remained on Maresca’s radar as City looked for pace and direct running on the flank. Chelsea reportedly placed a £100m valuation on the 26-year-old Portugal international, who joined from Wolves in 2024. City made contact, but the price proved too high, so the club turned elsewhere before the deadline.
3. Malo Gusto
Malo Gusto presented a similar problem at right-back. Maresca knew the 23-year-old from his Chelsea spell and wanted his speed, technical quality and ability to cover different roles. Chelsea valued Gusto at £75m, while City showed no appetite for that figure. Reports said City were prepared to pay around £45m, leaving a sizeable gap that never disappeared.
Manchester City transfer news: What the misses mean for Maresca
On paper, Fernández changes City’s midfield. Ndiaye gives Maresca another attacking option, yet the manager still lost two recruitment battles on the flanks and one at right-back. Gakpo would have added Premier League production and could cover several attacking positions, while Neto offered a one-versus-one threat and Gusto could have strengthened the right side of the defence.
That matters because City’s summer spending reached about £458m, the highest total among Premier League clubs. Spending heavily doesn’t guarantee every hole gets filled, though, and these three failed moves show where City drew a financial line. Arsenal finished ahead of City last season, so Maresca now starts his first campaign knowing the margin for error may be small.
Fans will judge the squad by results, but these missed deals could stay in the conversation whenever injuries expose thin cover. For Manchester City transfer news, the story after the £125m headline could be the players they couldn’t buy.
