Manchester City have once again turned down Barcelona's fresh bid for their Spanish midfield lynchpin Rodri, this time rejecting a reported £55 million offer. The Catalan giants had initially approached City last week with a proposal in the region of £40 million, which was promptly declined. According to Sky Sports News, Barcelona were prepared to improve their valuation, aiming somewhere between £50 million and £60 million, yet even that heightened figure fell short of the price City consider appropriate for the 30‑year‑old. Rodri, who captained Spain to World Cup glory, is now entering the final year of his contract with the Premier League champions.
City have publicly indicated that they are looking for a fee north of £60 million, reflecting both his importance to the squad and the market value of a player of his calibre. Negotiations remain ongoing, but the English club has made it clear that any deal must meet their financial expectations. Sky Sports has also reported that Manchester City are not actively seeking to off‑load Rodri.
The club’s preferred route is to secure a new long‑term contract that keeps the Spanish midfielder at the Etihad for the foreseeable future. However, the club’s stance is pragmatic: should Rodri decide that a move abroad is in his best interest, City would not block his departure, provided the fee aligns with their demands. While the Rodri saga continues, another significant transfer story has unfolded at the Etihad.
Manchester City have reached an agreement to sell Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah for a fee estimated at around £51 million. Reijnders, who arrived from AC Milan in the summer of 2023, expressed a desire for a new challenge, and the Saudi Pro League club appears ready to meet his ambitions.
The departure of Reijnders, combined with the potential exit of Rodri, could leave City with a noticeable gap in their central midfield department. Nevertheless, the club is already signaling interest in possible replacements. Reports suggest that Manchester City are monitoring Enzo Fernández, the Argentine play‑maker who impressed during his spell at Benfica, as well as Ayyoub Bouaddi, a promising young talent currently on Lille's books.
Chelsea have entered the fray, setting a deadline of Friday 5 p.m. for City to submit a £120 million bid for Fernández.
Simultaneously, talks continue with Lille regarding a potential move for Bouaddi. The competition for top‑quality midfielders underscores the intensity of this summer's transfer window. James Savundra of Sky Sports News weighed in on the financial implications of the Reijnders deal. He noted that the sale, together with the earlier departure of striker James Trafford and smaller exits such as Nathan Ake's move to Turkey, means City are generating over £100 million in inbound cash this window.
This influx strengthens their negotiating position and provides a healthier budget for further acquisitions. Savundra added a speculative calculation: if City were to receive a high‑value fee for Rodri—say £70 million—combined with the £51 million from Reijnders, the total would reach roughly £120 million, mirroring the amount Chelsea are prepared to spend on Fernández.
Such a scenario would give City considerable flexibility to reinvest in the squad, potentially addressing multiple areas beyond midfield. In summary, Manchester City are steadfast in their valuation of Rodri, rejecting Barcelona's improved £55 million offer and holding out for a sum that reflects his status as a World Cup‑winning captain. At the same time, the club has secured a lucrative transfer for Tijjani Reijnders, adding significant funds to their summer budget.
With interest from top clubs on both Fernández and Bouaddi, City appear poised to navigate the market strategically, balancing the loss of key midfield assets with the acquisition of fresh talent to maintain their competitive edge in domestic and European competitions.