Sources: Man City’s Ruben Dias stance revealed as club push for transfer

Manchester City have no intention of selling key centre-back Ruben Dias ahead of the 1 September transfer deadline, sources have told Football Insider.

The Portuguese has emerged as a clear target for AC Milan in recent days, but they are set to find it difficult to prise him away from the Etihad Stadium.

Enzo Maresca has already seen several experienced players depart from his squad so far this summer, and has already made it clear that Dias cannot head for the exit as well.

Sources have indicated that it would be a “complex” deal for Milan to strike, and they are unlikely to have the necessary finances to tempt the Citizens into a sale.

Maresca has made Dias club captain for the 2026-27 campaign, and the 29-year-old played all 90 minutes of their opening-day victory over Bournemouth on Sunday.

He only managed 24 starts in the Premier League last term, but is expected to be a key player for City once again this time around. 

Man City set to draw line under exodus

City have transitioned away from the Pep Guardiola era this summer, and that has brought something of an exodus of the senior players within their squad. 

The sales of Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake followed the departures of Bernardo Silva and John Stones upon the expiry of their contracts. 

James Trafford, Tijjani Reijnders and Rodri have all been sold in recent weeks, while Savinho and Omar Marmoush are both on the verge of moves to Tottenham. 

City had always planned for a refresh of their group, but they are keen to ensure that some continuity remains in order to help Maresca through the early stages of his reign.

With that in mind, Dias is seen as effectively being untouchable at the moment, such is the lack of desire from City to sell him. 

The only way that could change is if a truly irrefutable offer were to be put on the table, but Milan do not have the financial power to make that happen.

Man City’s three-man midfield shortlist revealed

Football Insider revealed last weekend that City have established a three-man shortlist of midfield targets to replace the duo of Rodri and Reijnders before the deadline. 

Bouaddi is now on the verge of sealing his move to the Etihad Stadium, having been top of City’s midfield shortlist for large parts of the summer. 

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Roma star Manu Kone are also clear targets for the Citizens, but it remains to be seen whether they will back up Bouaddi’s imminent arrival with a second addition.

City’s spending is understood to have been freed up a little by their recent sales, despite the huge deal for Elliot Anderson earlier in the summer.