Enzo Maresca 'key' to Man City hijacking Arsenal deal after agreement reached

Enzo Maresca has played a crucial role in Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga deciding to join Manchester City this summer. 

That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Italian would have known about the 16-year-old prodigy during his stint in charge of the Foxes.

This comes after sources confirmed that City have reached an agreement to sign the starlet for a £10million package, despite him having been locked in talks with Arsenal for a prolonged period. 

Wyness believes that both clubs have secured a good deal for themselves as part of the agreement for Monga, with City now on the verge of confirming the player’s arrival. 

The young forward had his pick of the Premier League’s elite clubs this summer, with Leicester having been keen to cash in after their relegation to League One. 

However, Monga has chosen City for his next move, and Wyness believes that Maresca’s influence simply cannot be underestimated when it comes to the youngster’s decision. 

Man City taking ‘big risk’ with Jeremy Monga 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 are still taking a “big risk” by signing Monga this summer. 

The 16-year-old notched one goal and two assists in the Championship last term, but Wyness has warned that he still has plenty of development to come in the next few years, both as a player and as a person. 

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, he explained why City are taking a “qualified risk” with the deal. 

“Leicester are getting a proper transfer fee for the player plus a sell-on. In some cases you could have looked at just getting academy compensation, which would have been peanuts for a player of this quality,” the Scottish businessman said.

“Let's not forget City are taking a big risk. He's only 16 and I've seen it before. I've had young players in the academies come through, and they have failed as they discover girls and beer and all sorts of things that can happen from that age onwards as an adolescent.

“Maresca had seen him when he was at Leicester and knew of him so that's the whole different factor I think in this case and why Man City had pushed the boat out because of the Maresca factor.

“Leicester have done okay, they should be very happy with the result they've got; they've got a sell on. Man City are taking a risk, but they're taking a qualified risk. So both parties could walk away with this one quite happy.

“And good luck to the kid. I hope he's a great talent.”

Man City ready to accept offer for their own youth talent

Football Insider revealed earlier this week that City will consider selling right-back Rico Lewis this summer if a suitable offer comes in. 

The 21-year-old had looked set for a huge future at the Etihad Stadium, but he was limited to just four starts and 11 appearances in the Premier League last term. 

Nottingham Forest are already exploring the possibility of a deal for the versatile starlet this summer, while Everton have also been heavily linked with him in recent weeks. 

With Monga about to come through the doors at the Etihad, the club could yet be about to lose one of their own academy graduates.