How could Manchester City line up under Enzo Maresca?

Enzo Maresca is rumoured to be Pep Guardiola's replacement at Manchester City.

The Italian coach is currently out of a job after leaving Chelsea at the beginning of the year and previously worked at City as coach of the U23s before taking a position as Guardiola's assistant in 2022.

A title-winning campaign at Leicester thrust him under the spotlight within English football and it was enough for Chelsea to appoint him as manager in June 2024.

Despite winning the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup, the relationship between Maresca and the Chelsea board deteriorated towards the end of 2025, leading the club to announce his departure on New Year's Day.

BBC Sport are reporting that talks with Maresca are at an advanced stage and we take a look at how City may line up under him should he occupy the dugout next season...

Possible transfer business

Before we take a look at a specific formation and starting XI, it is important to recognise that there will likely be a huge shake-up in playing personnel over the next few months.

It has already been announced that long-time servants Bernardo Silva and John Stones will leave the club on free transfers and the likes of Tijjani Reijnders, Josko Gvardiol, Omar Marmoush and James Trafford are the subject of major transfer speculation.

Those departures would force City's hand in the transfer market anyway but, in all likelihood, Maresca is sure to have some names already in mind regarding incomings.

Central midfield is an area that the Citizens will be keen to strenghthen, especially given the potential outgoings, and there has already been a whole host of players linked with a move to the Etihad including Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Morten Hjulmand.

Left wing may also be a position of interest for City with Marmoush a potential outgoing and Jack Grealish almost certain to exit on a permanent deal.

Whoever comes in will likely play as understudy to Jeremy Doku, so reports linking 18-year-old Bosnian international Kerim Alajbegovic with a move to Manchester may make sense.

He has netted nine goals and provided a further three assists for RB Salzburg in the Austrian Bundesliga this campaign and looks destined to make the switch to a top five European league this summer.

Style of play

During his time at both Leicester and Chelsea, the Italian has preferred to utilise a back four when in settled possession.

At both clubs, Maresca was keen to deploy one of his full-backs into a more central position, allowing for one of the midfielders to move up the pitch and play alongside the number 10.

Looking at the make-up of City's squad right now, it appears that Maresca already has the perfect player to play the full-back and midfield hybrid role in Nico O'Reilly.

The number eight tasked with moving up to play next to the 10 is slightly more tricky, however. This is where Maresca may have to dip into the transfer market and a move for fellow countryman Tonali.

It was reported last month that whilst Tonali was seeking a Newcastle exit, the 26-year-old was keen on remaining in the Premier League.

Moving further up the pitch, the picture becomes more straightforward for Maresca, he has used a number 10 at both Leicester and Chelsea; a role that looks absolutely ideal with Rayan Cherki in mind.

The movement of the midfielders in a Maresca system often leaves a winger one-on-one with their full-back, a scenario that sounds absolutely tailor made for Antoine Semenyo and, especially so, Doku.

Erling Haaland - scorer of 161 goals in 197 matches for the Citizens - will play regardless of suitability to Maresca's system but, given his track record, there should be no concerns regarding the Norwegian centre forward.

Formation & starting XI

4-2-3-1

Gianluigi Donnarumma; Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias, Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly; Rodri, Sandro Tonali, Rayan Cherki; Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland