Rico Lewis set for possible Man City exit ahead of crunch Enzo Maresca future talks

Rico Lewis set for possible Man City exit ahead of crunch Enzo Maresca future talks Man City defender Rico Lewis could push to leave the club this summer, per a new report Lewis made just 11 Premier League appearances in Pep Guardiola’s final season at Man City Nottingham Forest & Everton are among the clubs said to have shown interest in the 21-year-old Manchester City defender Rico Lewis could push for a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer if he is not guaranteed regular first-team football under incoming manager Enzo Maresca, as per a new report. Lewis has been an intriguing figure in Manchester City’s squad in recent seasons, with the versatile defender’s ability to operate across the back line and in midfield making him an unconventional but highly valued asset under Pep Guardiola – though his involvement in Guardiola’s final term fell well short of what Lewis and those around him would have hoped. The England international made just 11 Premier League appearances throughout the 2025-26 season, starting only four league games, despite having signed a new five-year contract extension in September 2025 that ties him to the club until 2030. Rico Lewis weighing up options ahead of potential Manchester City exit That combination of long-term contractual commitment and short-term frustration on the pitch has created an uncertainty around Lewis’s future that the arrival of new manager Enzo Maresca as manager has done little to resolve, with the new head coach yet to make his intentions around every member of the squad publicly clear ahead of the 2026-27 season. Director of football Hugo Viana is overseeing a significant rebuild at the Etihad Stadium this summer and the question of Lewis’s role within the new structure is one of several personnel decisions that Maresca must resolve before the window closes. Report: Lewis ‘could push to leave’ if not part of Maresca’s plans According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider , Lewis could push for a move away from Manchester City this summer if he is not promised regular minutes under Maresca – a development that would represent a significant and surprising departure for a player who was regarded as one of the most distinctive talents to emerge from the City Football Academy . Lewis accumulated five goal contributions across 23 appearances in all competitions last season despite his limited involvement in the Premier League, figures that suggest his impact when given the opportunity was considerable even if the frequency of those chances left much to be desired. The report adds that Nottingham Forest and Everton are among the Premier League clubs to have already shown interest in Lewis, broadening the pool of potential destinations available should the 21-year-old decide that his ambitions can no longer be met at the Etihad Stadium under the current setup. The situation is further complicated by Manchester City’s ongoing pursuit of Malo Gusto from Chelsea , with the arrival of a specialist right-back of the France international’s quality likely to push Lewis further down the pecking order in that position and narrow his opportunities for regular involvement even further. Manchester City place £30M price-tag on Rico Lewis ahead of mass summer exodus What does Lewis’s situation mean for Man City’s summer plans? The possibility of Lewis departing would represent a notable shift in the club’s thinking around a player who was still highly rated within City’s coaching structure as recently as the end of last season – and it underlines the degree to which Maresca’s appointment has created genuine uncertainty across every area of the squad. Lewis earned five England caps in 2024 during a period of more consistent involvement at club level, but was not considered for Thomas Tuchel’s FIFA World Cup squad this summer – speaking to the impact his reduced game time has had on his standing at international level and the urgency he feels around returning to playing week-in, week-out at club level. Maresca is expected to assess all options across the squad before reaching final decisions on potential exits – and Lewis’ situation is understood to be one that the Italian manager will address directly with the player before any definitive conclusion is reached. Whether that conversation provides Lewis with the clarity and assurance he is looking for – or instead confirms that his path to regular football at the Etihad Stadium is blocked for another season – is set to become one of the more consequential personnel discussions of Manchester City’s summer.