Manchester City have now opened talks to sign an "absolutely sensational" Premier League star, who could be Enzo Maresca's first signing.

Maresca expected to replace Pep Guardiola at Man City

Maresca will have huge shoes to fill at the Etihad Stadium, with the Italian set to replace Pep Guardiola, who won 20 trophies during a remarkable 10-year stint in the Premier League.

However, with the 46-year-old now poised to land the job, Paul Merson has suggested he could be the ideal heir to Guardiola, saying: "I liked him at Chelsea. I thought he was a good manager. He's going into Man City, he's been there before, he's worked in the Premier League before. He knows some of the players at City. I think he ticks every box.

"He's not coming in trying to get used to the place, he's not coming into a league that he's never been in. I think he'll go in and settle quite nicely. They'll need a few players as well. But this is the problem: Liverpool, Arsenal, Man City, Man United, Chelsea all need players. There's not that many players around."

Indeed, City may need to make some new additions this summer, having failed to win the Premier League for the last two seasons, and sporting director Hugo Viana has started making moves ahead of the transfer window.

Man City open talks to sign Premier League star

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man City have now opened talks to sign Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, but a deal could be very expensive, with Unai Emery's side planning to hold out for around £100m.

The England international is one of the most in-demand players in Europe, and City are keen on securing his signature, given that Bernardo Silva is set to move on this summer.

Rogers is open to a move to the Etihad Stadium, which is promising news, with Viana looking to build a team capable of reclaiming the Premier League title.

Sky Sports' Dougie Critchley has lauded the 23-year-old as an "absolutely sensational" player, and he has really made a name for himself since joining Villa from Middlesbrough in 2023, chipping in with 31 goals and 29 assists in 125 matches.

The Villa star is certainly a player who could get City fans off their seats, having made it clear he is more than willing to take risks, rather than playing it safe, saying: “I know people might moan and be frustrated when I lose the ball — just keeping it is not my game. It never has been. It never will be. I don’t play football to be boring, to be safe. Other players are better than me at that, and that’s why they’re playing different positions.“

With Silva set to depart, it will be important to strengthen in attack this summer, and Rogers has shown he is ready to make the step-up to a club in contention to win the Champions League.

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