The Dutchman arrived from AC Milan last summer for £46 million and showed flashes of quality under Pep Guardiola. Seven goal contributions in 19 league starts isn't a bad return, but after the standards he set at Milan — 16 goals and four assists in all competitions the season before — his first year in Manchester hasn't quite hit the heights many expected.

With Maresca now in charge following Guardiola's decade-long reign, the new head coach is assessing every option in his squad. Reijnders' inconsistent game time has naturally led to questions about whether he stays or goes this summer.

Clubs are circling. According to FootballInsider, Galatasaray, Juventus and AC Milan have all shown interest in the Netherlands international.

Reijnders impressed individually during a World Cup campaign that ended in disappointment for the Dutch — eliminated in the round of 16 by Morocco. He'll be hoping that form carries into pre-season and convinces Maresca he deserves more minutes.

Transfer correspondent Pete O'Rourke summed it up neatly: "Reijnders has got a big pre-season ahead of him as he tries to impress the new Man City manager. He started really well last season but then lost his place under Pep Guardiola."

O'Rourke added: "It's a clean slate for him and everybody at City under Maresca, so Reijnders will be hoping that he can become a regular in the side."

The ability is clearly there. If Maresca can find the right way to use him, Reijnders could yet become an important part of this City side. The Italian seems keen to make that happen.

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has been photographed alongside PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi on a padel court in New York City, with the two meeting ahead of the FIFA World Cup final.

The image, which shows both men alongside a third individual after their session, captures an informal encounter between two of European football's most powerful figures. Al-Khelaifi's Paris Saint-Germain side have reached the World Cup final representing France this summer, adding an international chapter to what has already been a busy summer for the French club in the transfer market.

Padel has become something of a fixture among football's executive class in recent years. The sport's blend of accessibility and competitive edge makes it a natural setting for the kind of relationship-building that happens in the margins of major events, away from boardroom formality and transfer market scrutiny.

Al Mubarak has been a prominent presence in New York throughout the latter stages of the tournament. Manchester City's ongoing transfer business and the broader management of a club in significant transition have given the chairman plenty of reasons to be deeply engaged this summer, even while major international football continues in North America.

His public statements on City's direction this summer have emphasised the ambition and careful planning behind Enzo Maresca's appointment and the ongoing rebuild at the Etihad. The presence in New York speaks to a hands-on approach to steering the club through one of the most consequential periods in its recent history.

The warmth between the two figures is a reminder that football's most senior executives operate within a relatively small, closely connected global network. The informal encounters facilitated by events of the World Cup's magnitude carry significance that extends beyond the social.

Whether the meeting carries any bearing on Manchester City's remaining summer business remains entirely a matter of speculation. But in a sport where relationships between club executives can prove as consequential as those between sporting directors and agents, the photograph will attract attention well beyond its surface-level charm.

What can be said with certainty is that Al Mubarak's presence in New York at this juncture is no coincidence. City's transfer window remains active across several fronts, from the ongoing pursuit of wide attacking reinforcement to the unresolved futures of players whose situations at the Etihad remain to be clarified before pre-season begins.

Real Madrid have no intention of signing Rodri this summer. That is the definitive message coming from the Spanish club's senior hierarchy, according to a new report from The Athletic, despite the Ballon d'Or holder's long-standing openness to a move to the Spanish capital.

The story of Rodri's potential departure from Manchester City has been one of the most persistent threads of the summer window. Direct communication between the two clubs took place earlier in the summer, and the midfielder's name has been attached to Madrid throughout a period in which City's broader rebuild has dominated the news agenda.

But The Athletic draws a sharp distinction between the noise and the intentions of those in authority at the Bernabeu. The noises from various levels of the club could not be clearer: they have no intention of signing him.

Madrid are reportedly unhappy that Rodri's name has been so consistently and publicly linked to them throughout the summer.

Internal admiration, institutional resistance

The report acknowledges a fascinating counterpoint within the Bernabeu itself. Sources close to some senior players have spoken privately about how transformative his signing could be. That admiration coexists with the institutional resistance at the top of Madrid's hierarchy without appearing to carry any meaningful weight in the actual decision-making process.

For Manchester City and director of football Hugo Viana, the firmness of Madrid's position — delivered at multiple levels of the club rather than through a single spokesperson — provides a degree of clarity they may not have possessed at the start of the window. It effectively removes the club most frequently cited as a potential destination for the midfielder from the equation for this summer at least.

The question of Rodri's future now remains unresolved in a different way. Not because a move to the Santiago Bernabeu remains possible, but because the absence of a credible suitor at the level his reputation demands makes the prospect of any departure at all this summer considerably less likely than the volume of speculation has suggested.

For Enzo Maresca, the confirmation that Madrid are not coming for his most influential defensive midfielder is both reassuring and challenging. Reassuring in that it preserves his most important asset for the season ahead. Challenging in that the rebuild Maresca is overseeing was in part predicated on the potential reinvestment of funds from a Rodri sale that now looks increasingly unlikely to materialise this summer.

Whether Rodri's own openness to a future move persists into next summer, or whether the absence of a concrete offer from a club of Madrid's stature encourages him to recommit fully to the next phase of City's evolution under Maresca, is now the central question in a story that has generated far more noise than it has ultimately produced in the way of transfer activity.

Rodri has finally broken his silence on his Manchester City future — and the headline is that there isn't one yet. Speaking after Spain's World Cup semi-final win over France, the Ballon d'Or winner made it clear that club matters can wait.

“Right now, as I said before the FIFA World Cup, I have a contract at my club, and it will be something I want to settle when it ends,” he told Diario AS. “Quite important is the challenge [of a Final vs Argentina], we have to think about this. Raising the level will help me make a decision.”

The 30-year-old's current deal runs into next summer, and with little progress reported on an extension, the situation remains as ambiguous as it was before the tournament. City are understandably keen to keep hold of their number 16, but it appears nothing will be resolved until after Spain's campaign concludes.

Real Madrid links persist

Rodri has regularly been linked with a move to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid and has previously spoken openly about playing at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, according to Spanish media, Los Blancos do not intend to pursue the midfielder this time around.

Following the departure of club legend Bernardo Silva this summer, Enzo Maresca will be determined not to lose further firepower in midfield as his first season in charge approaches. The signing of Elliot Anderson is promising, but Rodri's qualities, seniority and leadership in the dressing room remain indispensable.

Losing the treble winner next summer would be a significant blow. He has spent seven trophy-laden campaigns at the Etihad, collecting 13 honours since his arrival in 2019. Whether he extends his stay beyond next season remains to be seen, and it is unlikely we will receive any further clarity until the World Cup comes to a close.

Manchester City have lost out to Chelsea in the race for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, with the 23-year-old set for a medical at Stamford Bridge on Monday after the Blues agreed a British record £117 million fee.

The deal, first reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, surpasses by £1 million the British transfer record City themselves set just weeks ago when signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Rogers has been one of the most coveted attacking midfielders in the Premier League over the past 18 months, and City's sustained interest in the England international had been one of the most regularly reported stories of the summer window.

City director of football Hugo Viana had identified the 23-year-old as a profile capable of contributing across multiple positions within Enzo Maresca's system. The club were monitoring Rogers closely and were believed to hold considerable confidence in their ability to secure a deal.

Arsenal were the third club in what became a three-way race, with Aston Villa holding firm throughout on a valuation that has now been met and exceeded.

The move is expected to be formally confirmed in the coming days once administrative formalities are completed.

For City, the defeat represents a significant setback for Viana and Maresca, who had identified Rogers as a priority target. The search for a wide attacking option must now be redirected toward alternatives already being assessed.

Viana had been working on the Rogers pursuit alongside several other targets this summer. The winger search — which has already seen interest in Francisco Trincão discussed in the market — now takes on renewed urgency.

Whether the financial resources that might have been committed to a Rogers deal are redirected toward another attacking target, or whether City move in an entirely different direction, will define the next chapter of the club's summer window.

AC Milan are reportedly exploring the possibility of signing Phil Foden from Manchester City, though the Italian side would need to clear significant hurdles before any move could take shape.

According to reports in Italy, Milan believe City could consider offers in the region of €50m–€60m for the England international. No formal negotiations are underway, but the positive relationship between the clubs following Tijjani Reijnders’ move to the Etihad could smooth any future talks.

Foden’s contract situation adds an extra layer of intrigue. His current deal expires in the summer of 2027, meaning he has entered its final 12 months. City would risk seeing their negotiating position weaken if no renewal is agreed.

Selling a homegrown player of his technical quality for around €50m would still be a major — and potentially controversial — decision.

Leão sale needed first

Milan would need to sell Rafael Leão before making a serious approach. The Rossoneri are prepared to consider offers of at least €60m for the Portuguese winger, despite his contract containing a €175m release clause. No formal offer had arrived as of the latest update.

Foden would be a strong technical fit for Milan. He can play centrally or from either wing, and a move abroad could give him the fresh responsibility needed to rediscover his most consistent form.

For now, the deal feels more like an ambitious Milan idea than an advanced transfer. Leão must first be sold, and City would need a strong reason to open the door.

Manchester City have been installed as shock frontrunners to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez this summer, with one bookmaker cutting their odds to 6/1 after the Argentine's impressive World Cup performances.

The 25-year-old scored a stunning late equaliser against England in the semi-final, a game Argentina went on to win 2-1. It was the kind of moment that tends to shift the market.

Fernandez's future at Stamford Bridge has been the subject of speculation for some time, with Real Madrid long considered the most likely destination. The Spanish side remain favourites at 5/2, but City have now emerged as credible contenders.

The timing is interesting. City are entering a new phase under Enzo Maresca, who is tasked with following the act of Pep Guardiola. And here's where it gets curious: Maresca and Fernandez previously worked together at Chelsea.

A reunion, then, is not entirely out of the question.

A statement signing?

Fernandez had a tricky 2025-26 campaign at club level, but his quality on the international stage has been impossible to ignore. He is one game away from securing back-to-back World Cup titles.

For City, a deal would represent something of a statement. The club have been the Premier League's dominant force for the best part of a decade, yet they have gone two seasons without winning the title. Arsenal are favourites to retain the trophy come 2026-27, with Liverpool also expected to be in the mix.

Bringing in a player of Fernandez's calibre would send a clear signal of intent.

Bayern Munich remain in the picture at 9/1, while Atletico Madrid (14/1) and Arsenal (16/1) are longer shots. Where Fernandez will actually end up remains unclear, but City's emergence as serious contenders adds an unexpected twist to the summer window.

According to Portuguese outlet Record, Al Ahli have agreed a deal worth around €45 million (£37.9 million) with Sporting, but the winger is yet to give the green light. The 25-year-old is reportedly keeping his options open as City and Spurs circle.

Trincão is believed to have both Premier League clubs on his shortlist, though the report notes City have not yet made contact and their interest remains unconfirmed. Whether that changes before the window shuts is another matter entirely.

City are expected to be active this summer as Enzo Maresca takes over from Pep Guardiola. The club is also navigating a period of transition with Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake among those heading for the exit. There is ongoing uncertainty around several first-team regulars, including Ruben Dias, Rodri and Rico Lewis, as sporting director Hugo Viana plots the way forward.

Reinforcements out wide are thought to be a priority, particularly with Savinho expected to depart. Trincão, who Premier League followers will remember from a loan spell at Wolves, joined Sporting in 2022 and has registered 35 goals and 33 assists across four Primeira Liga seasons. Last term he featured primarily as a central attacking midfielder as Sporting finished second.

For now, Trincão finds himself in something of a standoff: a lucrative, agreed switch to Saudi Arabia on one side, and the possibility — however unconfirmed — of a move to City or a rival on the other.

The event is a well-established feature of City's pre-season calendar, designed to facilitate the outgoing business that comes with managing a squad of this size. This summer's edition carries extra weight given the scale of the exits Enzo Maresca and director of football Hugo Viana are overseeing as part of a wider rebuild.

Club legends John Stones and Bernardo Silva have already departed, while Nathan Ake's move to Fenerbahce was among the more high-profile exits confirmed this window.

Players on show

Divine Mukasa, Jaden Heskey, Reigan Heskey, Max Alleyne, Spike Brits, Charlie Gray and Issa Kabore all featured in Tuesday's session. Championship sides were joined by clubs from across Europe in attendance throughout the day.

The session included a short training display put on specifically for the visiting representatives, according to Shamoon Hafez of BBC Sport. A formal presentation featuring data and analytics on each player was also shown to those in attendance — a structured, professional approach that reflects the seriousness with which City treat the process of placing fringe and development players at appropriate clubs.

One senior figure from a Championship club described the event as "definitely a worthwhile exercise." Sending representatives to City's invitation is viewed within the football community as a signal of courtesy and a desire to be on good terms with one of the Premier League's most influential clubs.

The session featured a number of good players that club representatives would be interested in taking on loan, suggesting the quality on show met or exceeded expectations.

Outgoing picture

The breadth of Tuesday's event speaks to the scale of the outgoings element of City's summer business. Maresca's stated preference for a larger squad than Guardiola worked with creates an apparent tension with the need to trim and place a significant number of fringe players before the window closes.

The inclusion of European clubs alongside Championship sides reflects the global reach of City's network and the reality that some players will find their next opportunity abroad rather than in the English Football League.

Whether the shop window event accelerates the loan and permanent business City need to complete before pre-season begins in Asia — where Maresca's squad faces Inter Milan in Hong Kong before taking on the K-League All-Stars in Seoul — will become clearer in the days ahead. But Tuesday's session confirmed that the club are approaching this summer's outgoing business with the same organisation and intent they have brought to their incomings.

The French youth international has attracted interest from City's recruitment team, who have been active in the French youth system in recent months. Chabot would follow academy recruits Mahamadou Sangare, Hermann Malonga and Mathys Detourbet in swapping France for Manchester.

According to reports from Le Parisien, Chabot has turned down a new deal at Angers in an attempt to force a move to the Premier League side. Discussions are said to be progressing, though no official agreement has been reached yet.

Background

The teenage goalkeeper featured in last year's FIFA U17 World Cup and has played above his age group, turning out for Angers at U19 level and in reserve matches. He is expected to continue his development in City's academy system if the move goes through.

City are in the midst of a busy window. Elliot Anderson is poised to join the club for a British record fee after the World Cup, while the club continue to pursue Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the French side setting a price for a permanent deal.

Talks between Manchester City and Tottenham over Savinho remain active, though a deal is far from done. Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that discussions are “ongoing club to club,” with Spurs pushing for a £65m move for the Brazilian winger.

But City have yet to give the green light. Romano explained that the club are not rushing into a decision, suggesting there is more to this than simple haggling over a fee.

For now, the situation remains unresolved. The two sides are talking, but City appear in no hurry to finalise anything.

Manchester City have made tangible progress in their pursuit of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the French club now understood to have set an £84 million asking price for an immediate transfer.

The 18-year-old Morocco international has been a target across several weeks of sustained negotiation, and a meeting between City CEO Ferran Soriano and Lille president Olivier Létang at the end of June confirmed the seriousness of the club's intent.

According to Ben Jacobs, that meeting has produced genuine traction in talks that had previously been stuck between Lille's desire to keep Bouaddi for another season and City's determination to sign him this summer.

The structure question

The shape of any deal has always been the central issue. City's preferred approach is to sign Bouaddi now but allow him to remain in French football for further development. That loan-back structure would reduce the headline fee, with Lille increasingly open to the idea as a mechanism for getting a deal done.

Alternatively, a pre-agreement structure — effectively a deal agreed now but not activated until a future date — would give City the security of knowing their target is contractually committed while allowing Lille to retain his services beyond this window.

Jacobs reports that talks have been ongoing since last month and have been sustained across several weeks, reflecting the complexity of an arrangement with multiple potential structures and a selling club not entirely convinced they want to sell at all.

Why Bouaddi?

Director of football Hugo Viana and manager Enzo Maresca have consistently identified central midfield reinforcement as a priority beyond the £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Bouaddi's profile as a technically accomplished, progressive midfielder is viewed internally as a complementary long-term addition to the squad being assembled at the Etihad.

The loan-back dimension remains the most likely pathway to a deal, with the fee reduction attached to that structure providing a financial incentive for City to formalise what has long been their preferred approach.

What happens now

Lille's willingness to attach a fee reduction to a loan-back or pre-agreement structure is a significant concession from a club that had held firm on their valuation throughout the negotiation. The end-of-June meeting with Soriano appears to have shifted the dynamic in a way that subsequent weeks of talks have built upon.

The confirmation of progress moves this story beyond the exploratory phase and into territory where an agreement feels genuinely possible within the remaining weeks of the summer window. For Viana and Maresca, the priority now is converting that progress into a concluded agreement before external competition from Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid — both previously linked with Bouaddi — re-enters the picture.

Whether Bouaddi ultimately arrives under a loan-back structure, a pre-agreement or an outright immediate deal is secondary to the central question of whether a conclusion can be reached at all. But Jacobs's update confirms that City are now closer to answering that question than at any point in a pursuit several months in the making.

Spain booked their place in Sunday's final with a 2-0 win over France in Dallas on July 14. It was a semi-final that saw two City players on opposite sides, with Rodri and Rayan Cherki both involved.

Mikel Oyarzabal put Spain ahead from the penalty spot after 22 minutes, following a foul on Lamine Yamal by Lucas Digne. Pedro Porro doubled the lead in the 58th minute, finishing after Dani Olmo's pass.

Rodri played the full 90 minutes and was typically busy. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner had 82 touches, made six defensive contributions, won 4 of 4 aerial duels and completed 87% of his passes. Cherki came off the bench in the 72nd minute, replacing Michael Olise. He managed one key pass and completed both of his dribble attempts.

Argentina break English hearts in Atlanta

England's semi-final against Argentina followed a different script. A goalless first half gave way to drama, with the Three Lions taking the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute, Morgan Rogers providing the assist.

Argentina hit back late. Enzo Fernandez equalised in the 85th minute from a Lionel Messi corner, and Lautaro Martinez headed the winner from another Messi cross deep into stoppage time.

City had three players involved for England. Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson both started and played the full match. Guehi registered 62 touches, five defensive contributions and completed 98% of his passes. Anderson, booked in the 37th minute, had 73 touches, eight defensive contributions, and won 4 of 4 aerial duels. Nico O'Reilly replaced Declan Rice in the 82nd minute, making two defensive contributions and winning his only aerial duel. James Trafford, City's academy graduate and England's third-choice keeper, was an unused substitute.

Third-place playoff and final details

France and England will meet in the third-place playoff at Miami Stadium on July 18. It will be the fourth World Cup meeting between the two nations. Their last encounter came in the 2022 quarter-final, a 2-1 win for France.

Rodri is City's sole representative in the final. He lines up against Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, aiming to add a World Cup winners' medal to his European Championship and Nations League triumphs with Spain.

The two sides have met 14 times previously, each winning six with two draws. Their last meeting was a friendly in March 2018, a 6-1 win for Spain. Their last competitive meeting was at the 1966 World Cup group stage, which Argentina won 2-1.