Etihad Intel

One thing worth understanding about Manchester City's approach this summer is that the objective is not simply to replace outgoing players. The objective is to leave Enzo Maresca with a stronger squad than the one Pep Guardiola leaves behind. The club's target is a senior group of 18-19 interchangeable elite outfield players, supported by three goalkeepers and supplemented by the academy prospects judged ready to contribute immediately. The focus is on building a squad where the difference between the strongest XI and the second XI is as small as possible. Recruitment work has therefore centred around four key positions: • Central Midfield • Right Wing • Right Back • Centre Forward This is not a summer being driven by opportunity in the market. It is being driven by a clearly defined squad-building strategy. The aim is to create a younger, deeper and more flexible group capable of competing across every competition while maintaining the standards that have defined the club over the last decade. Viewed through that lens, many of City's decisions over the coming weeks will make considerably more sense.

Manchester City’s stance on Ruben Dias is they absolutely count on him for next season and would not engage in any transfer negotiations unless the player and his entourage demanded it. Even in that scenario the player would have to return for preseason training in Manchester and formally request a move. It has been less than 12 months since the player was given a contract extension and an increased salary. In our case estimations Real Madrid will soon move on to an alternative target as they did with Cucurella.

Why would Manchester City feel in a rush when the player is at the World Cup and has committed to joining the blues? They’re acting quickly out of respect for him.

No confirmation on the size of the offer from our side.

Manchester City have submitted a new bid for Elliot Anderson. Remains to be seen whether it is enough to tempt Evangelos Marinakis. The blues remain confident it’s a matter of when not if Anderson joins.

Tonali's agent working overtime again. He's desperate for a move to Manchester City, but so far the blues have been reluctant to engage with his team on a transfer this summer. From a budgetary point of view, there are other options Manchester City would prefer to target.

Another central midfield target is emerging for Manchester City. Ayyoub Bouaddi. It is unlikely that any progress can be made with him until after the World Cup, but the club are comfortable with this as they want monitor his performances. It is a position in which the club do not want to sign developmental players, so they have to be sure that he is ready for the Premier League. They are also acutely aware of the number of clubs vying for his signature. A reminder that whilst Sandro Tonali is desperate to join Manchester City, the club themselves haven't decided yet who their primary target will be for the second midfield berth.

Josko Gvardiol set to sign new Man City contract until 2031.

It will be a busy week at the Etihad this week. The expectation is that the new manager will be announced. There is also hope of positive developments in at least one other transfer after Elliot Anderson.

Manchester City have made progress in both Rodri and Gvardiol contract discussions. Optimism that both players will sign before the start of next season. Neither was ever available for transfer this summer despite interest.

As we had said a week ago. Florentino Perez was never pursuing Rodri. Every expectation that he will sign a new deal at Manchester City.

We told you first. Maybe by summers end you’ll all be believers.

@GithakaRon76922 No not true

@etihadintel Broo I herd the maresca deal is about to collapse because Chelsea doesn't what him to come to mancity is it true

Sandro Tonali is desperate to join Manchester City. It remains to be seen whether the Blues prefer to move for a player of a different profile. Tonali has been fully scouted by City’s data analysis department in previous windows so the decision will solely be that of Hugo Viana and Enzo Maresca.

@reeves1960 @No_wukinfurries And yet here you both are. Notice we haven’t insulted you or even tried to argue with you. You are welcome to take this account at face value or you’re welcome to move on. Either way we will all be fine. Have a good summer.

@No_wukinfurries @etihadintel ITK accounts are joke. Guessing or peddling every other piece of gossip and hoping something rings true

Elliot Anderson's camp were the first to make public Forest's rejection of Manchester City's latest bid. People around the player are disappointed that Evangelos Marinakis has not kept to his word of accepting a fixed fee in excess of 105 million pounds. Manchester City have assured the player that they will not be walking away from the transfer. They view him as a transformative acquisition for the club. Manchester United is not a destination the player is interested in, and they are aware of this.

We wouldn’t reply to an account we thought wasn’t credible or was making up “fairy tales”. We seem to have attracted a lot of angered, irritated, Forest supporters. Our aim wasn’t to offend anyone. Everyone involved with the transfer is aware it will happen and as I said previously Forest will receive a record fee. A huge win for Evangelos which no one will be dispute.

@etihadintel Your posts are city speculation, I take with a pinch of salt. At best you may have one side of a story, doesn’t make it true. If you post about a Forest player then I may return to your timeline, isn’t that what social media is about?

Amused at your return to our timeline. The most important thing to note is that Elliot Anderson will be a Manchester City player before next season kicks off. Forest will be a lot richer. Everyone will win, shake hands, and move on. Anderson can be disappointed and Forest can change their benchmarking of his quality and therefore his fee. Our post was not a judgement of who is right and wrong, simply a reporting of what has happened.

@etihadintel Made up story again.

Sometimes, good news travels slowly. Glad it's finally appearing in the feed of more 'trusted sources' than us.

@raducrisanx We gave it to you a couple of days ago.

LADS THIS IS INCREDIBLE NEWS