Manchester City have their next manager lined up and their top transfer target in their sights. But neither are yet in the building.
Enzo Maresca has yet to be confirmed as the next Blues boss while City have seen two bids for England international Elliot Anderson knocked back by Nottingham Forest.
There remains a belief that a deal for the 23-year-old can be struck but with England kicking off their World Cup campaign on Wednesday, it is unlikely to be confirmed until after the tournament even if Forest and City can agree a fee in the meantime.
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Talks are likely to continue between the clubs but the World Cup schedule, with England potentially playing eight games in five weeks, plus the travel and a desire of Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel to try to keep club transfer matters out of the camp immediately before and after matches means wrapping up a switch in the coming weeks will prove nigh on impossible.
It means even if City are able to strike a deal with Forest for the midfielder, they will face a wait before the move can be confirmed with the Blues initially hoping a transfer could have been concluded before the World Cup.
With the Anderson situation now set to rumble on, City will be keen to announce the appointment of Maresca. The hope is that confirmation comes sooner rather than later with there not expected to be any late hiccups, but the process has taken far longer than expected and hoped as talks between the Blues and his former club Chelsea over a deal continue.
Talks are advanced and City hope to conclude the process as quickly as possible ahead of what could be a busy summer with a number of potential transfers – both in and out – along with a World Cup and summer tour of Asia.
The Blues have already had to exercise a degree of patience this summer and will be hoping good things come to those who wait.
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