City accept £65.4m Barcelona bid for Rodri as Bouaddi and Fernandez talks advance

Manchester City have accepted a £65.4m bid from Barcelona for Rodri, bringing the Spain international’s seven-year stay at the Etihad Stadium to an end. The deal came just hours after City’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, with Rodri expected to travel to Barcelona for his medical. City had previously rejected two offers from the Catalan club before agreeing terms.

With Rodri’s departure now confirmed in all but paperwork, City are moving swiftly to address the void in central midfield. Talks with Lille over 20-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi are described as advancing, with reports suggesting Bouaddi has informed Lille of his desire to join City this summer. The teenager has drawn widespread attention for his composure and versatility, with former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud offering a glowing assessment.

“He’s a complete player, he’s very versatile, he’s all over the place, a bit like N’Golo Kante,” Giroud told BBC Sport. “He’s not yet as good as Sergio Busquets technically, but still he’s got some skills. The only thing he should improve is his finishing, being more aggressive in front of the goal.”

City’s interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez also remains live. Chelsea are reported to value the Argentine at £120m, and it is claimed that super agent Jorge Mendes has been enlisted to help facilitate a move to the Etihad. Fernandez is said to be motivated by the prospect of reuniting with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, under whom he previously worked, and sources suggest the deal remains a possibility even if it does not materialise before the summer window closes.

Elsewhere, Jack Grealish’s future at City is unresolved. The winger featured for 45 minutes in the Community Shield loss to Arsenal, and Chelsea head coach Maresca has indicated Grealish could remain at the club — though no firm decision has been made public.