Manchester City are actively negotiating with Lille over the transfer of 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. The club has already agreed personal terms with the youngster, and both sides are now working to hammer out a final deal that satisfies the financial and contractual requirements of each party. While the City board continues to pursue Bouaddi, they have reportedly put any ongoing discussions with Barcelona regarding the potential sale of captain Rodri on hold. The Catalan side allegedly tabled an opening bid in the region of £40 million, an amount City officials described as far below the valuation they expect for the 30-year-old Spaniard.
Rodri, who captains both club and country, is due back at the Etihad on Friday after a brief post‑World Cup break. With just one year remaining on his current contract, City are keen to secure a new agreement before the deadline approaches. In addition to the Lille target, Manchester City have identified a number of other midfield options to bolster their squad should further departures occur this summer.
One name that has surfaced repeatedly is Chelsea’s Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández. The Blues have placed a price tag of roughly £120 million on the 22‑year‑old, reflecting his rising reputation after a standout season in the Premier League. Fernández previously worked under City’s new head coach Enzo Maresca during his time at Chelsea, and the familiarity between the two could smooth a potential move. City’s scouting network is also monitoring interest from other clubs in several of their own players.
Nottingham Forest have been linked with Tijjani Reijnders, the Dutch midfielder who arrived from AC Milan for £46 million last summer. Reijnders’ future remains uncertain, although the club have indicated they are open to offers if the right price is met. Meanwhile, veteran Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovačić appears set to honour the final year of his contract at the Etihad, with no public indication of a departure. Nico González, another young midfielder, has publicly expressed a desire to remain at Manchester City, though it remains to be seen whether his playing time will increase under Maresca’s management.
A further decision pending from the City hierarchy concerns forward Omar Marmoush. The manager has compared Marmoush’s situation to that of goalkeeper James Trafford, who recently transferred to Leeds United after seeking regular first‑team action. Marmoush has voiced a wish for more minutes on the pitch, and Maresca has left the door open for the Egyptian‑born striker to feature more prominently this season. There has been no recent contact regarding Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in young talent Savinho, who has reportedly expressed a desire to leave Manchester City for a move to the North London club.
At present, the situation remains static, with no official bids or negotiations reported. On a more positive note, Brazilian youngster Vitor Reis is expected to stay at City for the upcoming campaign and compete for a place in the senior squad. The 20‑year‑old impressed Maresca during the club’s pre‑season tour of the Far East after spending the previous season on loan at Girona, City’s sister club.
Reis was signed from Girona for just under £30 million eighteen months ago and is now regarded as a promising prospect for the future. Returning to the senior squad, striker Erling Haaland, winger Jeremy Doku, French forward Rayan Cherki and England internationals Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson are all slated to rejoin the training group on Wednesday after their respective breaks. Their presence will add depth and quality to a squad already brimming with talent. In summary, Manchester City’s transfer window strategy appears to revolve around securing a young, technically gifted midfielder in Ayyoub Bouaddi, while also keeping tabs on Enzo Fernández as a potential summer acquisition.
Simultaneously, the club is navigating possible exits for several of its own midfielders, balancing the need to retain key players like Rodri and Kovačić with the desire to give emerging talents such as Vitor Reis and Omar Marmoush more opportunities. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining how the squad shapes up ahead of the new season.