Manchester City could be on the verge of an extraordinary final week of the summer transfer window, with six transfer records potentially set to fall before the deadline.
The scale of City’s transfer activity has already made headlines. However, with the window entering its final stages, the club could still produce several major deals that would rewrite parts of the transfer record books.
For supporters, the next few days could therefore be among the most fascinating of the summer.
Enzo Maresca has already overseen a major change at Manchester City since replacing Pep Guardiola in June. Now, the new head coach could have a decisive role in shaping the squad he wants for the 2026/27 campaign.
City have already shown that they are prepared to spend heavily when they believe the right player is available.
The £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest demonstrated that perfectly. The midfielder became City’s new club-record signing, surpassing the previous £100 million record set when Jack Grealish arrived from Aston Villa in 2021.
But Anderson’s record may not be the last one to fall this summer.
Manchester City have already made history
The Anderson deal has completely changed the financial scale of City’s transfer window.
Paying £116 million for a midfielder represented a huge statement of intent. It also reflected the changing nature of the Premier League transfer market, where fees above £100 million are becoming increasingly common.
Anderson’s move was initially one of the biggest transfers in Premier League history and made him the most expensive English player at the time.
That particular record did not last long.
Chelsea subsequently paid £117 million for Morgan Rogers, moving ahead of Anderson and taking the British transfer record.
That development makes the possibility of another major City deal even more interesting.
If Manchester City were to complete a signing for more than £116 million before deadline day, the club would immediately break its own transfer record again.
And if the fee exceeded £117 million, the deal could also reclaim the British transfer record.
Enzo Fernandez could create another huge record
One of the biggest names linked with City’s late-window activity is Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Reports have suggested that Manchester City have explored the possibility of a huge deal for the Argentina international, with Chelsea valuing him at around £120 million.
Such a transfer would have enormous implications.
A £120 million agreement would comfortably become the most expensive signing in Manchester City history, eclipsing Anderson’s £116 million fee.
It would also move above the £117 million Rogers transfer and restore the British transfer record to Manchester.
That means one deal could potentially produce two major records.
For Maresca, however, the question would not simply be about breaking records.
Fernandez would offer another high-level midfield option at a time when City are rebuilding their engine room following several important departures.
The Argentine’s technical quality, passing range and experience at the highest level would make him an attractive option for a team attempting to remain competitive during a period of transition.
City’s midfield rebuild could become historic
The potential pursuit of Fernandez also highlights just how dramatically City’s midfield could change.
Anderson has already arrived for a record fee.
If Fernandez followed him through the door for an even bigger amount, City would have spent an extraordinary sum on midfield reinforcements during the same summer.
That would underline Maresca’s desire to create a different midfield structure from the one inherited from Guardiola.
The new manager is not simply attempting to replace individual players.
He is building a squad capable of playing his football.
That could explain why City have been willing to consider enormous fees for players who fit their long-term plans.
Ayyoub Bouaddi is another name to watch
Another major storyline surrounding Manchester City is Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The highly-rated Lille midfielder has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in European football, and City have reportedly shown serious interest.
A potential deal worth around £85 million would represent an enormous investment in a teenager.
While that figure would not surpass City’s own transfer record, it would be significant for Lille.
Bouaddi’s potential transfer could become one of the biggest sales in the French club’s history.
For City, meanwhile, it would demonstrate that the club’s recruitment strategy is not solely focused on established stars.
There is also a clear desire to identify players who can become key figures for the next generation.
Rodri’s situation could influence everything
Perhaps the most important factor behind City’s late transfer activity is the uncertainty surrounding Rodri.
The Spain international has been at the centre of intense speculation during the summer, with Barcelona reportedly interested in signing him.
Rodri’s future matters enormously because he remains one of the most influential midfielders in world football.
His departure would leave an enormous hole in City’s squad.
It could also lead to another record.
If City received a huge fee for Rodri, the midfielder could become the club’s most expensive outgoing transfer.
That would eclipse the previous record sales involving players such as Raheem Sterling.
For a club that has historically been extremely strong in the transfer market, replacing a player of Rodri’s importance would be a major challenge.
The final week could become chaotic
Transfer deadline day is famous for unexpected twists, and Manchester City could be at the centre of several.
The club has already demonstrated its willingness to make major investments.
Anderson’s £116 million arrival was followed by continued speculation about several other high-profile targets.
That means supporters have plenty of reasons to watch the final days closely.
The six potential records are not necessarily guaranteed to fall. Transfer negotiations can change quickly, valuations can become obstacles and clubs can refuse to sell important players.
But the possibility itself shows how dramatic City’s summer has become.
Maresca faces a defining moment
For Maresca, this is more than an opportunity to add expensive players.
It is the beginning of his Manchester City project.
Replacing Guardiola was always going to be an enormous challenge. The Italian has inherited a squad that has undergone significant changes, while several long-serving figures have moved on.
The new manager therefore needs to establish his own identity.
The transfer market is one of the most important ways he can do that.
Anderson already represents the first major statement of the Maresca era.
A potential Fernandez deal would be even bigger.
A move for Bouaddi would underline City’s commitment to the future.
And the situation surrounding Rodri could determine whether another major piece of business becomes necessary.
City fans have plenty to anticipate
There is now a genuine sense that anything could happen before the transfer window closes.
Manchester City have already broken their own transfer record this summer. Anderson’s £116 million move underlined the club’s ambition and placed City among the biggest spenders in an increasingly expensive Premier League market.
But the next seven days could take things to another level.
If City complete another deal above £116 million, their own transfer record would immediately fall again.
If the fee reaches £118 million or more, the British transfer record could also return to the Etihad.
Meanwhile, potential deals involving Bouaddi and Rodri could create significant records for other clubs and for City’s outgoing transfer business.
That is why the final week of the window promises to be so important.
Manchester City are entering a new era under Enzo Maresca, and the transfer market is already reflecting the scale of that change.
One thing is certain: the six potential transfer records are not the only reason City supporters will be watching deadline day.
The bigger question is what this extraordinary spending spree means for Maresca’s first season in charge.
If the right deals are completed, Manchester City could enter the new campaign with a dramatically different squad — and a clear statement that the post-Guardiola era is not about taking a step backwards.
It is about building something new.
