Enzo Maresca in Man City sales 'discussions' as new signing causes 'SCR' concern - Keith Wyness
Manchester City will need to sell several players this summer as they edge towards confirming the signing of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Citizens are struggling to comply with the Premier League's new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) rules.
This comes after the news that they have agreed a £116million club-record fee for Anderson, which some reports suggest could rise as high as £130m with add-ons.
Wyness is in no doubt that Forest's owner Evangelos Marinakis has got himself a "good deal" at that price, and feels it will have knock-on effects at the Etihad Stadium.
City are set for a summer of significant change as they prepare to welcome Enzo Maresca in the dugout, and a revamp of the squad could be on the cards.
Bernardo Silva and John Stones have already departed on free transfers, and Wyness expects that could only be the start of the summer exits.
Man City lose SCR breathing room with Elliot Anderson deal
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that City will have to compensate for their big-money move for Anderson.
The former boardroom man has stressed that City have a "wealth of talent" that could be sold this summer, but added that they must be "careful" as to who they choose.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness made it clear that Maresca and Pep Guardiola will have already spoken about potential sale candidates.
"SCR-wise, I think this is where we're going to see Elliot coming in first, and I think that's close to being done as we'd expected," he said.
"Marinakis has got himself a good deal, and City have got themselves a great player. He strengthens the squad as he's a very aggressive and talented midfielder.
"Maresca is going to have a very strong squad to compete with for next year, that's for sure. But I think they'll have to watch the SCR.
"I do expect to see a couple of City players go, and they've got a wealth of talent to sell on as well. They've got to be careful about which ones they pick, but I'm sure Maresca and Pep have already discussed all this.
"The plans have been in place for quite a while, I'm sure."
Man City can't repeat Julian Alvarez mistake
Former City financial advisor Stefan Borson recently told Football Insider that his former club "got the price wrong" when they sold Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid for £81.5million.
The Argentine forward has flourished in his opening two seasons in the Spanish capital, and Real Madrid have recently suggested that they have had a bid of £129m for him rejected by their city rivals.
Borson is clear that City could have netted more when they decided to move him on, and they must guard against a similar situation playing out this summer.
Sales are needed at the Etihad in the coming months, but the value that they bring in will also be hugely important.