Barcelona join the race for Rodri as contract standoff deepens
Well, this is getting interesting. Rodri's future was already the talk of the summer, with Real Madrid lurking in the background. Now Barcelona have waded in, and suddenly the picture looks a whole lot more complicated.
According to The Athletic's Pol Ballus and Mario Cortegana, the Camp Nou outfit are exploring a deal for the 30-year-old, having held talks with his camp over the conditions of a potential move. The lure of the Blaugrana project, we're told, is the fit with their footballing style and the prospect of joining a dressing room where eight members of Spain's World Cup-winning squad already reside.
For a player who has won everything at club level, the appeal of a new challenge in Catalonia is obvious enough.
City, for their part, are unsurprisingly keen to keep hold of their midfield metronome at least for the final year of his current deal. A financially boosted contract offer has been placed on the table, but Rodri has yet to commit. The longer he holds out, the greater the chance of an exit this summer.
It leaves Hugo Viana, the club's Director of Football, with plenty on his plate. He has been at the negotiating table throughout the window, fielding interest in Enzo Maresca's squad while also working on potential recruits. The £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest addressed one area, but attention has quickly turned to right-back, the wing, and further reinforcement in the middle of the park.
Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi remains a primary target, though prising the Morocco wonderkid away for anything below €100 million looks a tall order.
Rodri's situation, though, is the one that could define the window. With Real Madrid and now Barcelona circling, City's resolve is being tested. The ball, as they say, is in the player's court.