Manchester City have declined a second offer from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri, valued at approximately €60m (£51m). Meanwhile, Chelsea has established a deadline of 5pm (BST) on Friday for any club interested in submitting a £120m bid for Enzo Fernández, who has been identified as a potential replacement for Rodri.
Barcelona’s improved bid for Rodri, following an initial €45m offer, was rejected by City. City is reportedly seeking between £60m and £65m for the 30-year-old midfielder, who captained Spain to a World Cup victory and is a former Ballon d’Or winner. Rodri has indicated a preference for Barcelona, leading City to anticipate his move to Camp Nou.
Transfer Market Activity
With Rodri’s potential departure, Enzo Fernández has emerged as a key target for City. Fernández, a World Cup 2022 winner, is seen as a player who could bring experience and leadership to Enzo Maresca’s squad. However, Chelsea’s position is firm: if their £120m valuation is not met by an official bid by Friday’s deadline, the 25-year-old will remain with the club. Chelsea noted that interested clubs have had two months of the transfer window to solidify their interest.
To potentially generate funds, City may sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al-Qadsiah. Discussions are reportedly advanced for a deal worth around €60m for the 28-year-old Dutch player, who joined City last summer.
In other team news, Jérémy Doku has signed a contract extension with City, committing him to the club until 2031. The 24-year-old winger expressed his excitement for the new season under Enzo Maresca, stating, “With Enzo [Maresca] here now I am really excited about the new season. His style of football is the kind we love, so that’s exciting for the players.” Doku also mentioned the significant support from City fans as a reason for his new contract, adding, “The City fans are also a huge reason I have signed this new contract. I feel their love and support, and it means the world to me. I want to focus of bringing them the success they deserve.”
Ongoing Negotiations and Other Deals
Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri continues, with reports indicating increased bids for the Spain international. Meanwhile, other transfer activities are unfolding across European football. Cristian Romero is reportedly interested in joining Arsenal, though Tottenham is unwilling to let the 28-year-old Argentina centre-back move to their rivals. Romero is also considered an option for Barcelona, who are expected to loan Ronald Araujo to Liverpool.
Nottingham Forest is reportedly close to securing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting for £34m. Ferran Torres has informed Barcelona of his desire to join Paris St-Germain after agreeing to personal terms. Everton and Crystal Palace have engaged in discussions regarding a potential swap deal involving Dwight McNeil and Brennan Johnson.
Tottenham has held advanced talks with Manchester City for Savinho, with a package worth £60m believed to be sufficient for a deal. Aston Villa is nearing an agreement to sign Matteo Ruggeri from Atletico Madrid. Southampton’s Shea Charles could move to Leeds if their offer surpasses Fulham’s current £30m bid. Niclas Fullkrug’s move to Venezia has been blocked due to West Ham’s asking price, while West Ham has reached an agreement in principle to sign Manor Solomon from Tottenham. Finally, Fenerbahce is set to finalize a deal for Romelu Lukaku from Napoli, which would involve a sell-on fee owed to Chelsea.
Chelsea’s deadline for bids on Enzo Fernández is set for 5pm (BST) on Friday.
Source: theguardian.com