Anderson deal done, but more needed
Elliot Anderson is through the door, but the sense around the club is that Enzo Maresca's squad still requires another body in midfield. The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders signed Anderson from Nottingham Forest to address a clear gap, yet the prevailing view is that one more quality addition is needed.
So who might that be?
If the noise around the club is anything to go by, Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi is the name that keeps coming up. In fact, he's the only midfielder consistently linked with a move to City this summer.
Bouaddi the primary target
Sam Lee, writing in the latest Transfer DealSheet for The Athletic, reports that City like and admire the Moroccan midfielder. According to Lee, the club have considered signing Bouaddi this summer and loaning him back to Lille. However, given his talent, they are also weighing up keeping him in Maresca's squad for the coming season.
Interestingly, Lee adds that City believe Bouaddi could slot in at right-back if needed.
Beyond Bouaddi, it's quiet on the midfield front. Chris Wheeler of the Daily Mail has mentioned City, alongside Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham, as having an interest in Bournemouth's Alex Scott. The Cherries have no intention of selling and are hoping to extend his contract, which runs until 2028.
A City move for Scott feels unlikely. Bournemouth don't want to sell, and he might not fit what City need.
It could also be that City's next midfield target simply hasn't been revealed yet. Hugo Viana has a habit of pivoting in the market. Whether that happens here isn't known.
For now, Bouaddi looks like the most practical option. City will need to find Rodri's long-term replacement eventually, and Bouaddi seems to fit the profile of exactly that. Whether they can get the deal done remains to be seen, but it makes sense.
With Morocco still in the World Cup and a quarter-final against France coming up, it's unlikely there will be any further updates on Bouaddi's future until Morocco's participation ends.