Manchester City are currently engaged in negotiations with Lille over the potential signing of Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The personal terms between the 18‑year‑old prospect and the English club have reportedly been agreed for some time, and both parties are now working to finalize the transfer fee and other contractual details.
At the same time, City appear to have put any active discussions with Barcelona regarding their captain Rodri on hold. The club felt that Barcelona's initial bid, which is believed to be in the region of £40 million, was far below the valuation they expect for the 30‑year‑old Spanish midfielder. Consequently, Manchester United have not pursued further talks on that front.
Rodri is scheduled to re‑join the squad on Friday after his post‑World Cup break. He still has one year remaining on his current contract, and City are keen to secure an extension before the deadline approaches.
Sky Sports News reports that Barcelona are still considering whether to improve their offer for the Spanish captain, but City have made it clear that any future proposal must reflect the player's true market value. In addition to Bouaddi, Manchester City have identified a number of other midfield options to bolster their squad, especially if further departures materialise this summer. One name that has surfaced repeatedly is Chelsea’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández. The Blues have placed a £120 million price tag on the 22‑year‑old, who previously worked under City’s new head coach Enzo Maresca during his stint at Chelsea.
Fernández’s familiarity with Maresca’s tactical approach makes him an attractive prospect for the Premier League champions. While the club is exploring inbound options, they are also monitoring several potential exits.
Nottingham Forest have shown interest in Tijjani Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder who arrived from AC Milan for £46 million last season. City have not yet received a formal bid, but the interest is being closely watched by the Etihad hierarchy. Midfielder Mateo Kovačić, who is in the final year of his contract, is expected to remain at City for the upcoming season, fulfilling the remaining term of his deal.
Similarly, Nico González has publicly expressed his desire to stay, although it remains uncertain whether his playing time will increase under Maresca’s system. Manager Enzo Maresca has also addressed the situation of winger Omar Marmoush, stating that the player’s future will be decided by his own ambitions, drawing a parallel with James Trafford’s recent move to Leeds United after seeking more regular minutes. Marmoush has indicated that he wants to feature more prominently, and Maresca has left the door open for him to earn a larger role this season. Another potential departure is Brazilian youngster Vitor Reis, who is expected to stay and compete for first‑team opportunities.
The 20‑year‑old impressed Maresca during the club’s pre‑season tour of the Far East, after spending the previous campaign on loan at Girona, City’s sister club. Reis was signed from Girona for just under £30 million eighteen months ago and is now viewed as a promising talent for the future. There has been no recent contact regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s target Savinho, who has expressed a desire to leave Manchester City for a move to the north London side.
At present, the club has not entered any negotiations concerning his possible transfer. Looking ahead, several key players are set to return to training this week, including striker Erling Haaland, winger Jeremy Doku, French forward Rayan Cherki, and England internationals Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson, all of whom are due back on Wednesday.
Their return will provide Maresca with a fuller squad to assess as he finalises his tactical plans for the new campaign. Overall, Manchester City’s transfer strategy appears to be a blend of securing emerging talent like Bouaddi, pursuing established midfielders such as Enzo Fernández, and managing the departure of players who may seek more playing time elsewhere.
The club’s ability to balance these incoming and outgoing moves will be crucial as they aim to maintain their dominance in the Premier League and compete on the European stage.