Barcelona's Clock Ticking on Rodri Pursuit

The uncertainty surrounding Rodri's future is threatening to derail Manchester City's preparations for the new season, with Barcelona yet to make a serious move for the midfielder.

Former City financial adviser Stefan Borson has told Football Insider that the ongoing situation is disrupting the club's entire transfer window. With the season opener against Arsenal in the Community Shield just nine days away, the Blues are keen to resolve matters before then.

Rodri, who has entered the final year of his contract, has attracted interest from the Catalan giants. However, their reported €45m (£38.6m) bid plus add-ons has been dismissed out of hand by City officials.

"Man City, historically, have said, 'If the deal is not done by, let's say, the Charity Shield, we're not playing ball, he's not for sale,'" Borson said.

That stance leaves Barcelona with a narrow window to act. Should they fail to meet City's valuation before the Wembley showdown, the Ballon d'Or winner could stay put for another season.

Borson hinted that City are prepared to play hardball, suggesting the club may simply refuse to sell if no acceptable offer arrives by the weekend.

The disruption extends beyond Rodri himself. Should he depart, City would need to source a replacement, a task made more complicated by the fact that the window is already well underway.

Borson added that City expect to be active in the market regardless, with the potential arrival of Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille seemingly unaffected by the Rodri situation. A midfield of Bouaddi and Elliot Anderson, with the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Rico Lewis and Tijjani Reijnders in reserve, is an enticing prospect for the fans.

Other names mentioned as potential targets include Atalanta's Ederson, Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and Barcelona's Marc Bernal, though no concrete moves have been made as yet.

For now, the focus remains on Rodri. Whether he lines up at Wembley on Sunday or watches from afar, the coming days will determine the shape of City's midfield for the season ahead.