Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has admitted the club still have major work left to do in the transfer market after a summer marked by several high-profile exits from the Etihad Stadium. Although the Etihad club have already made a statement with a club-record signing, the Italian coach has made it clear that the door remains open for more additions amid growing links with Chelsea winger Pedro Neto.

Maresca addresses transfer speculation

New City boss Maresca has underlined that his team are still active in the market as they aim to restore their domestic supremacy. The Italian, who took charge after Pep Guardiola brought his remarkable 10-year spell to an end, has already seen a number of experienced players leave this summer.

Speaking to reporters before City's pre-season friendly against the K-League All Stars in Seoul, Maresca outlined the current position. "Fortunately, this is a squad that doesn’t need to do many things," he said. "At the same time, as we already know, the club lost important players in terms of experience like Bernardo [Silva], John [Stones], Nathan [Ake], different players. So for sure, there are things that we need to do."

Neto on the radar

The standout name being linked with a switch to the Etihad is Chelsea winger Neto. The Portugal international is someone Maresca knows well from their spell together in west London. Reports indicate that City are preparing an eye-catching move for the £70m-rated Portugal international to strengthen their attacking options, especially with uncertainty over the future of other players in wide areas.

When asked whether any new arrivals were close, the manager stayed cautious but positive. "No, not at the moment," he said when questioned on whether a deal was nearing completion. "The reason why I said there are things to do is because the transfer window is open and when it’s open anything can happen. Yeah, it’s just August and then from September when it’s closed it’s completely different."

'In communication every day'

City have already shown their spending power by sealing a club-record £116 million deal for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. The 23-year-old midfielder is the first major signing of the Maresca era, but the departures of other big names have left supporters wanting further additions. In particular, the club have identified the Chelsea winger as a possible replacement for Savinho, who is heading to Tottenham in search of more regular game time.

Maresca stressed that he is in close contact with director of football Hugo Viana and CEO Ferran Soriano as the club work through the closing weeks of the window. "Hugo is here and also Ferran is here," the Italian said. "We just try to speak day by day to see if we need to do something. As I’ve said, for sure there are things that we need to do, but we are in communication every day."

Focus on tactical improvement

On the field, Maresca is still settling in after a pre-season defeat to Inter Milan in Hong Kong. In spite of that result, he remains concentrated on putting his ideas into place. "It’s important since day one to try to install new ideas and new things," he explained. "It’s important that day after day, but especially game after game, you can see during the game the things that you work on day by day.

"For instance, the first game against Inter Milan, for sure there are many things that we can do better. But the main thing is that I start to see things we start to work on since day one."

The manager knows the expectations at City remain extremely high as the side get ready for their Premier League opener against Bournemouth.