Manchester City target Manu Koné as Spurs hold talks over Savinho and Marmoush
Manchester City have identified Roma midfielder Manu Koné as a transfer target and are in discussions with Tottenham Hotspur over a proposed double sale of Savinho and Omar Marmoush, in reporting dated 19 August 2026. Negotiations over the Spurs deal are understood to be progressing well while City continue to seek further midfield reinforcements.
City have already completed the £116m signing of Elliot Anderson and are closing in on the £85m acquisition of Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, but manager Enzo Maresca remains keen to add an experienced central midfielder. Koné, who would be expected to cost about £50m, is admired by Maresca for his dynamic style of play. The 25-year-old played five of France’s eight World Cup matches and France won all four fixtures he started.
If Koné were to be signed, the club say he would contribute elite-level experience to Maresca’s squad. That need has been amplified by the departure of Rodri, whose move to Barcelona was reported to be worth about £65m on Tuesday. City’s midfield reshaping continued on Wednesday when Tijjani Reijnders was sold to Al-Qadsiah in a deal reported at about £51m after one season at the club.
The Dutch midfielder operates as a No 8, and City acknowledge that Nico González, who plays as a defensive midfielder, may also leave before the transfer window closes on 1 September. Anderson arrived having been a first-choice alongside Declan Rice for England at the World Cup and made his Premier League debut for Newcastle in 2021. By contrast, the 18-year-old Bouaddi is described as relatively inexperienced.
City are still expected to make an official bid for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández, though they are reported to value him at less than Chelsea’s £120m asking price. That potential move remains separate from the club’s talks over Koné and the wider midfield changes under Maresca.
Talks with Tottenham over Savinho and Marmoush are being handled as a double deal worth about £150m. Savinho has previously been linked with Spurs, while Marmoush has emerged as a target for Roberto De Zerbi; no agreement has been reached but negotiations are understood to be progressing and De Zerbi believes each player will add depth to his squad.
City’s activity is expected to continue before the transfer window closes on 1 September, with an official approach for Enzo Fernández still anticipated and further incomings or outgoings possible ahead of that deadline.