There was a moment, not so long ago, when Matheus Nunes looked like a square peg in a round hole at Manchester City. Signed from Wolves in August 2023, the Portuguese midfielder struggled to impose himself in Pep Guardiola's engine room. A spell out wide and a stint at left-back during 2024-25 brought mixed results.

Then fate intervened. Kyle Walker's influence waned midway through that season, and City suddenly needed a right-back. The assumption, widely held at the time, was that the club would have to enter the transfer market to replace one of the finest right-backs the Premier League has ever seen.

Instead, Guardiola looked at Nunes and saw something else entirely.

Reluctant beginnings

The player himself admits he was not immediately convinced. In a recent interview with Sam Lee for The Athletic, Nunes revealed he originally wanted nothing to do with the position. He told friends repeatedly that he was not a full-back. They told him otherwise.

"I spoke to so many people," Nunes said. "I have a psychologist. I spoke to my friends."

His inner circle were unanimous. "No, but you play so good there," they insisted. The message was reinforced from within the dressing room, where Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias took it upon themselves to get inside his head.

They were in my head constantly. 'You were good there, you were good there. You need to accept it.'

It was, by Nunes's own admission, a battle against his own insecurity. He recognised that rejecting the role could mean letting his opportunity at Manchester City slip away entirely.

Embracing the change

The turning point came when Nunes decided to listen. He stopped denying what those around him could see clearly, accepting that the stubbornness was costing him.

"At a certain point, you just have to see what the people are saying," he said. "You can't be denying it for the rest of your life."

Gradually, through the latter stages of 2024-25, Nunes rose to prominence in his new position. By last season, he had made the role his own, establishing himself as one of City's most consistent performers.

His pace, his willingness to overlap or drift into midfield, and his defensive solidity have made him the ideal fit. It is now difficult to imagine Enzo Maresca's side lining up without him at right-back.

Guardiola spotted the potential. But it took the player himself to embrace the transformation. Sometimes the hardest opponent to overcome is the voice in your own head.

Enzo Maresca has made it clear that replacing Pep Guardiola was never going to daunt him. The new City boss says he jumped at the chance to take over from the man who defined a decade of dominance at the Etihad, and he is not about to start second-guessing himself now.

Speaking ahead of the final pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Seoul, Maresca faced the inevitable question: does he feel the weight of following Guardiola? His answer was swift and dismissive.

“No pressure, just privilege. For me it’s a huge privilege to be here and be City manager. In terms of expectations, this is a club that needs to win titles and compete for titles and we are going to try to do exactly the same.”

The Italian’s tone was relaxed, but the message was firm. He is honoured to have the opportunity, and he is already getting on with the job. Maresca has begun implementing his own ideas, working hard at training to get his methods across to a squad used to Guardiola’s ways.

There was no hint of hesitation when the job came up. Where others might have paused at the thought of following such an act, Maresca says he had no reservations. He sees it as a privilege, not a burden.

City’s expectations are clear enough. This is a club built to win, and the new manager knows it. Whether he can deliver remains to be seen, but he is not short of confidence.

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.

Among the young talents turning heads on City's Asian tour, one name has been conspicuous by his absence from the action. Divine Mukasa, the highly rated attacking midfielder who signed a contract extension until 2030 earlier this summer, has yet to clock a single minute in the friendlies against Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars.

It is not for lack of ability, as Enzo Maresca was keen to point out when asked about the teenager in his pre-match press conference ahead of the final preseason friendly against Atletico Madrid at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.

“Divine is a good player. The only problem is that we have so many players that we have already made many rotations and we struggled to find some minutes for him, for Floyd [Samba], for Xavi[er Parker].”

The simple, if frustrating, truth is squad size. City have travelled with a bloated party, and with Maresca rotating heavily, there simply have not been enough minutes to go around.

Maresca added: “There are three or four players that didn't get minutes in the friendly game but are training with us every day and we can see the way they are improving. The only problem for them is the amount of players we have in this moment.”

Mukasa, who generally does his best work as a number ten while drifting across the pitch, faces another obstacle beyond the squad list: competition. City are blessed with options in that role, with Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki the obvious senior names. During the tour, Claudio Echeverri and Tijjani Reijnders have also operated in the position Mukasa prefers.

For now, the teenager's path to the first team is blocked by a logjam of established talent. It is no slight on his potential, which the club have already backed with that long-term deal. But it does suggest his opportunity will not come immediately.

Another loan move looks the likeliest next step for the 2026-27 season. A spell in the Championship would give Mukasa the regular football he needs to return a more mature and well-rounded player.

The FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders clearly rate him highly. The challenge is finding the space for him to show it.

The prospect of losing Rodri has a way of focusing the mind. With the Spanish midfielder's exit to Barcelona reportedly taking shape, City appear to be preparing for life without their midfield anchor — and the name on their list is a familiar one.

Sport Italia journalist Gianluigi Longari has claimed the Blues have reignited their interest in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, with a potential offer mooted before the transfer window closes.

Longari's logic is straightforward enough. If Rodri goes, City need a like-for-like presence in the middle of the park. Fernandez, for all the noise around his Stamford Bridge spell, fits the profile of a player who could slot straight into Maresca's midfield. The Italian knows him well from their time together at Chelsea.

City's interest in Fernandez is not new. The club have been linked before, but the timing feels significant. This is not speculative window-shopping; it is a direct response to a potential outgoing.

"With Rodri's move to Barcelona taking shape, the Manchester City track for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez […]"

Barcelona's pursuit of Rodri has been an open secret all summer, and the noises from Catalonia have grown louder with each passing week. Should that deal finally cross the line, do not be surprised to see City move with unusual speed for Fernandez.

The window, as ever, has a habit of accelerating towards the end. City's midfield plans may well be decided in the final frantic days.

When Enzo Maresca walked into the building this summer, he brought with him something City's squad hadn't had in a while: a clean slate. Speaking before the final friendly of the Asia tour against Atletico Madrid, the new manager made it clear that reputations count for nothing right now.

"The only thing I have said since I start to the players is that for me it's a new reset. All of them start at same level," Maresca said. It's the kind of message that tends to focus minds.

Two friendlies in, with one to play, and the early signs are that some players have taken that message to heart more than others.

Second chances

Nico Gonzalez is the obvious example. The Spaniard spent the second half of last season sliding down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola, his opportunities drying up as the campaign wore on. Yet here he is, impressing in midfield and apparently set for a more prominent role next term. Funny what a clean slate does.

Savinho is another who found himself out of favour last season. The Brazilian looked destined for the exit door this summer, with plenty expecting him to be moved on. Instead, he's been one of the bright spots in the two friendlies played so far. Whether that's enough to change his fate remains to be seen, but it's a start.

Youth making a case

It's not just the senior players looking to revive their claims. Divin Mubama, Rico Lewis and Vitor Reis have all caught the eye throughout pre-season, quietly staking their own claims for minutes when the real business begins.

Maresca has been consistent on this point: "Pre-season will dictate a little bit the transfer window. This has been the same message for everyone – for me it is a reset."

In other words, what happens on the pitch between now and the end of the tour will help decide who stays and who goes. Everyone started level. How they finish will determine who's part of the plan.

Manchester City's midfield rebuild could take a blockbuster twist, with former club financial adviser Stefan Borson suggesting Enzo Fernandez remains a genuine target should Rodri complete his anticipated departure.

Borson, speaking to Football Insider, painted a picture of a club preparing for serious business before the window shuts. City have already committed £116m to bring Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, and Lille's 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi is expected to follow for £86m. Yet the former adviser insists Maresca wants more.

"They do want to replace him if he goes, and that's above and beyond the [Ayyoub] Bouaddi deal, which I think will still happen regardless."

Fernandez would not come cheap. Chelsea are understood to value the Argentine at £120m, and Real Madrid are also circling. But the 25-year-old's ties to Maresca keep City in the conversation, and Rodri's situation has only strengthened the links.

The former Ballon d'Or winner appears closer than ever to leaving, with all signs pointing to a summer exit. Borson believes City will want any Rodri deal wrapped up before the Community Shield meeting with Arsenal on 16 August — and only then would they move for Fernandez.

"I think City plan to be pretty busy between now and the close of the window. They want to buy and sell."

Fernandez, who managed 16 goals and 10 assists in 61 Chelsea appearances last season, may also be ready for a fresh start after the World Cup. Borson framed the potential move as "an enormous transaction", but one that hinges on City's willingness to play a waiting game with Rodri.

"So there's still loads to happen. But it's a question of whether City are prepared to play that game with Rodri. Or whether they just go, 'Look, if you haven't brought the offer by the Charity Shield, we're not selling this summer.'"

Either way, the next fortnight should settle it. City's business so far suggests they are not done.

Erling Haaland is finally heading back to Manchester. The Norway striker has been on holiday since the World Cup ended, but he is due to rejoin his City teammates imminently.

According to The Athletic, players who featured in the latter stages of the tournament are expected to report for their first training session under Enzo Maresca on Wednesday. The club will then open its doors to supporters for an open session on Thursday.

Haaland will be among those reporting. He reached the quarter-finals with Norway — their best ever run at a World Cup — before England ended their involvement. Along the way he scored seven goals in five matches, posting the best goals-per-90 ratio of any player at the tournament who netted four or more. Not a bad way to spend a summer.

City's pre-season is already well underway, but Haaland has been absent while his teammates have been put through their paces. His return comes at a useful moment, with the 2026/27 Premier League season kicking off later this month.

The Norwegian finished last season with 27 Premier League goals, and there is a sense that the World Cup has only sharpened his edge.

The Blues face Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 16, before their league campaign begins against Bournemouth on August 23. Haaland's presence for both will be a relief to Maresca as he prepares for his first competitive fixtures in charge.

Tijjani Reijnders' time at the Etihad could be over before it ever really got going. Barely a year after arriving in Manchester, the Dutch midfielder is reportedly the subject of serious interest from Nottingham Forest, with the Tricky Trees ready to test City's resolve with an eye-watering offer.

According to Calciomercato, Forest are in active talks with the Blues over a deal that would see the 28-year-old head to the City Ground. The proposed fee? A hefty £55m.

It would be quite the turnaround for Reijnders, who arrived last summer in a £46.5m move after two impressive seasons at the San Siro. He signed a five-year contract, the kind of commitment that suggests a long-term plan. Instead, he could be gone after just 12 months.

The early signs were good. Reijnders enjoyed a promising start to life in the Premier League, looking every bit the midfielder City thought they were getting. But over the course of the 2025/26 campaign, he fell out of favour with Pep Guardiola, and his opportunities became increasingly sporadic.

Even though the Spaniard left the club at the end of last season, the former Milan ace looks destined to sever ties with the 10-time English champions.

Forest's Ambition and a Sell-On Clause

Forest, who avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth last term, have no intention of enduring another nightmare season. This is a club looking to make a statement, and a £55m bid for a player of Reijnders' pedigree would be exactly that. They face competition from several Serie A sides, including Juventus, who had been keen to bring him back to Italy. Yet Forest could beat them all to the punch.

For Reijnders, the move might make sense. After tumbling down the pecking order in Manchester, a fresh start at a club that clearly wants him could be appealing.

And then there's Milan, watching from afar with a satisfied smile. If Oliver Glasner's men pull off this high-profile transfer, the Rossoneri will receive roughly €14m thanks to a sell-on clause included in the deal that took Reijnders to City. It's a handsome financial boost for a club trying to reinforce their squad amid Rafael Leao's uncertain future at the San Siro.

Not bad for a player who left a year ago.

Anyone hoping Chelsea's recent FA sanction might soften the ground for Manchester City's long-running 115-charge saga is likely to be disappointed.

Stefan Borson, who previously worked as a financial adviser to City, has told Football Insider that the Premier League champions would face a punishment far more severe than the one Chelsea just received, should they be found guilty.

"The punishment would be nowhere near the Chelsea punishment. It would be far more severe."

The FA fined Chelsea £10million and handed them a suspended two-window transfer ban for illegal payments to agents during Roman Abramovich's ownership. That ban only activates if the club repeat those offences.

Chelsea, it should be noted, saw an original 15-point deduction reduced to zero, with no evidence suggesting their actions delivered any sporting advantage on the pitch.

No mitigation available

The contrast with City's position could hardly be starker. Borson argues the Blues' recent leniency provides a useful measure of just how defining a guilty verdict could be for the champions.

Where Chelsea could point to cooperation and an absence of sporting gain, Borson suggests City would have little to lean on.

"If they are proven, City just simply won't have the mitigation that Chelsea had."

He points out that Chelsea didn't admit anything, didn't allegedly cooperate, and still couldn't claim exceptional cooperation. Yet even with all that, their punishment was effectively wiped out.

The sporting advantage problem

The key difference, in Borson's view, comes down to sporting advantage. Chelsea could argue their breaches gave them no edge on the pitch. City, given their sustained success, would struggle to make that case stick.

"The only question would be, could City show, or would there be any possibility of demonstrating that there was no sporting advantage? I think that is extremely unlikely."

His conclusion is blunt. If the charges are proven, you would have egregious breaches, aggravating factors everywhere, no early admission — quite the contrary — and no mitigation to speak of.

Everton and Nottingham Forest have already felt the sting of points deductions in recent times. Borson's assessment suggests City could be looking at something on an entirely different scale.

"First of all, we don't know whether the 115 charges are proven or not, and clearly if they're not proven, then it has no bearing at all," he said.

That remains the great unknown. But if the worst-case scenario materialises, Chelsea's relatively gentle landing will offer no comfort whatsoever.

Newcastle United have joined the chase for Omar Marmoush, with the City forward looking increasingly likely to leave the Etihad this summer.

The Egypt international has struggled to nail down a regular starting spot under Enzo Maresca, and a number of clubs are monitoring his situation. Tottenham and Barcelona remain interested, but it's the Magpies who could be the ones to watch.

"Newcastle know they need to do some serious business up front," one source told me. "Their forward signings last summer haven't done it, there are already serious doubts about Nick Woltemade's future, and Marmoush is someone they've got high up on their list."

Newcastle's interest comes after a chaotic summer on Tyneside. Anthony Gordon has gone to Barcelona, Sandro Tonali has moved to Tottenham, and a deal taking Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal is imminent. The club have banked significant fees for those departures, leaving them with serious cash to splash.

That financial muscle could make them the best-placed club to meet City's €60-65m asking price for the 27-year-old. Barcelona, for their part, are hunting for cheaper options up front after deciding Julian Alvarez is too expensive, while Spurs have other priorities, most notably Savinho and Cody Gakpo.

No formal approach has been made yet, but it's one to keep an eye on. City, for their part, aren't desperate to offload Marmoush — they value the squad depth — but most intermediaries expect they'll do business if the price is right.

After a difficult summer that has seen several star names depart, Marmoush could be exactly what Newcastle need. Whether they can get a deal over the line remains to be seen, but the pieces are certainly in place.

The summer of 2026 was always going to be a significant one at Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's departure alone was enough to mark the end of an era. Add in the exits of Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake, and the scale of the transition becomes clear.

Now it looks as though Rodri will be joining them out of the door.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Barcelona are increasingly confident of landing the Ballon d'Or winner before the transfer window closes. Rodri has respectfully told City of his desire to return to Spain, and the Catalan club are preparing an improved offer after their opening bid was rejected.

The loss of Rodri would be significant on the pitch. But the more immediate question might be who replaces him in the dressing room.

The captaincy picture

Erling Haaland and Ruben Dias are the bookmakers' favourites to take the armband. Both were part of the captaincy group last season alongside Bernardo Silva and Rodri, so the natural progression is there.

Phil Foden has also made clear his ambition to step into the leadership group. An academy graduate who has become one of the club's most important players, he would bring a different kind of authority.

Beyond that, the options are less obvious. Marc Guehi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Matheus Nunes and Josko Gvardiol could all earn their way into such a position. Rayan Cherki showed flashes of leadership last season, directing play in and out of possession, though whether that translates into a formal role remains to be seen.

City head into the 2026-27 campaign as FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, but with a dressing room that no longer resembles the one that collected those trophies. The new era under Maresca may well be defined by who steps forward to fill the void left by the departing voices.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has agreed personal terms with Barcelona, according to reports, with the Spain international now waiting on negotiations between the two clubs to finalise a transfer.

The 30-year-old, who captained Spain to World Cup glory and collected the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, looks unlikely to return to the Etihad. That much is now becoming clear.

While nothing is signed and no fee has been agreed, the direction of travel is obvious. Rodri has been a transformative figure for City since arriving in 2019, but the pull of Barcelona — and the chance to follow his World Cup triumph with a move to Catalonia — appears to have proved decisive.

The ball is now in the court of the two clubs' negotiators. City will be keen to secure a fee that reflects his value to a squad that has leaned on him so heavily, but Barcelona's financial constraints are well documented. Whether that leaves room for a compromise remains to be seen.

For City supporters, this is a bitter pill to swallow. Rodri has been the metronome in midfield, the player who makes everything tick, and the thought of lining up without him is a sobering one.

But football moves quickly, and so does the transfer market. If this deal goes through, City will need to find a replacement capable of filling some very large boots indeed.

Manchester City's midfield overhaul is gathering pace, with the club reportedly on the verge of securing Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.

According to Foot Mercato's Hanif Ben Berkane, City have accelerated their pursuit of the 18-year-old, and negotiations between the two clubs have now entered what he describes as the 'final phase'. The same report puts the potential fee at up to €100 million, with the final details still being ironed out.

Fabrizio Romano has since backed up that version of events on X, suggesting a deal is now very close and that talks are in their final stages.

The hold-up, such as it is, appears to be down to the player himself. It seemed a couple of weeks ago that Bouaddi would be a City player, but he has been resting after representing Morocco at the World Cup, and that pause has contributed to the delay.

For Enzo Maresca, Bouaddi would offer a specialist number-six option in front of the back four — a profile the squad has been missing. At 18, he would be a signing for the present as much as the future.

The move comes alongside the arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, adding further depth to an engine room that is being reshaped. City, remember, go into the new season as FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, and the squad is being assembled with another tilt at the lot in mind.

Manchester City have agreed a fee with Olympique Marseille for Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, with the 34-year-old set to become the club's new backup between the sticks.

The move comes as a direct response to James Trafford's departure. The young Englishman has left the Etihad to take up the number one shirt at Leeds United, leaving Enzo Maresca's squad a little light in the goalkeeping department.

According to Fabrizio Romano, City and Marseille have shaken hands on a deal that will see Rulli provide cover for Gianluigi Donnarumma. It is a familiar role for the former Real Sociedad man, who knows exactly what will be asked of him at this stage of his career.

Romano reports that Rulli has been cleared to fly to Manchester to undergo his medical with the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders. Barring any late hitches, confirmation of his arrival is expected in the coming days.

The contract is understood to run until 2028, with an option to extend by a further year through to 2029. At 34, Rulli brings plenty of experience to a position where City needed a reliable presence in reserve.

It is not the flashiest of signings, but it is a sensible one. Trafford's exit left a hole, and Rulli looks set to fill it.

Friday brought a flurry of activity as City's preparations for the new campaign stepped up a gear. The focus, naturally, has already shifted to Sunday's final pre-season outing against Atletico Madrid — the last chance to see this group before the competitive action begins.

But the real talking points were off the pitch. The transfer market provided significant developments, while fresh updates emerged on both Rodri and Nico Gonzalez. Add in news on another high-profile departure, and the picture of City's midfield rebuild is starting to come into focus.

Quite what those updates contain remains to be seen. What is clear is that the club are moving quickly to reshape the middle of the park, with Rodri's situation and Gonzalez's future both seemingly in flux.

Sunday's meeting with Atletico will give supporters their last look at this group before competitive football returns. Whether the squad they see is the one that starts the season is another matter entirely.

The sound of a door closing at one end of the pitch often means another one creaking open at the other. With Rodri's future at Manchester City having been the subject of speculation all summer, the last few days have seen the rumours shift from background noise to something approaching a chorus.

Fabrizio Romano, among others, has the Spaniard choosing Barcelona, with only a fee between him and the exit. City, meanwhile, appear to be preparing for life after their midfield anchor by looking at a very different kind of operator.

Enzo Fernandez is the name on the list. The links between the Blues and the Argentine are nothing new, but Miguel Delaney's piece for the Independent today adds some meat to the bones of a potential deal.

The crucial detail: Chelsea value Fernandez at £120m. That is the asking price, the figure that would need to be met for talks to even begin in earnest.

“They paid £106m for him in January 2023, and he's since produced a lot of goals and assists despite playing in some imperfect teams.”

That outlay, and that output, goes some way to explaining why Chelsea feel they can command such a premium. Whether City are willing to match it is another matter entirely. The fact list notes it's far from clear how much City are prepared to pay.

Fernandez's own position has been clear since the spring. He made his desire to leave Chelsea known back then, with Real Madrid his preferred destination. When Los Blancos made it clear they had no interest, it looked like he might be left high and dry at Stamford Bridge.

City, then, could offer an unexpected escape route. But there are plenty of obstacles before this gets anywhere close to a done deal.

The midfielder is expected back at Chelsea training next week. If he doesn't show up, things could be about to get very interesting indeed.

Manchester City are closing in on the signature of Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, with the club reportedly "on the verge" of agreeing a deal with the French side. The move would represent the fifth addition of a busy summer at the Etihad.

According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, who posted on his X account, negotiations between the two clubs are advancing. It is understood that talks have been ongoing for some time, with Maresca's side having tracked the Moroccan international for a while.

The news will come as little surprise to those who have followed City's recruitment this window. The club have already moved early and decisively in the market, and this latest pursuit suggests the midfield rebuild is far from complete.

Bouaddi, at 19, fits the profile of a player bought with one eye on the future. Whether he is expected to contribute immediately or is seen as a longer-term project remains to be seen, but the direction of travel appears clear.

For now, the focus is on getting the deal over the line. If Romano's update is accurate, City supporters may not have to wait long for official confirmation.

The noise from Catalonia is growing louder. Barcelona are reportedly now very confident about agreeing a transfer deal for Manchester City midfielder Rodri, according to Fabrizio Romano. Nothing is done yet, but it looks like things are heading in a positive direction, with Barcelona confident of bringing Rodri to the Nou Camp as the clubs negotiate together over the player's transfer fee.

Barcelona are now in official club to club talks with City and very confident to get the Rodri deal done. Initial indications from Barça are open to pay a fee slightly over €45m, while City are in direct talks indicating a higher price. Rodri wants Barça.

It has been a summer of significant change at the Etihad. Bernardo Silva and John Stones have also left after coming to the ends of their contracts, while of course there was also the blow of legendary manager Pep Guardiola stepping down.

Still, they also can't complain too much after surely getting the best of the 30-year-old, who won the lot with City during his peak years. Rodri was player of the tournament as he won the World Cup this summer, adding to a collection of honours that includes the Champions League, Premier League titles, and the FA Cup.

For City, the challenge is clear: replace the irreplaceable. The midfielder has been the metronome, the calm in the storm, the player who made everything else look simple. At 30, there is an argument that City are selling at the right moment. The legs don't lie forever, and the Premier League's demands are unforgiving.

But that logic rarely makes the goodbye any easier. The coming days will determine whether Barcelona's confidence is justified. Right now, the smart money is on Rodri lining up in Blaugrana next season.

Manchester City's pursuit of Malo Gusto has hit a familiar stumbling block: the price. According to RMC Sport's Fabrice Hawkins, the Blues are unwilling to match the £75m asking price Chelsea have set on the 23-year-old right-back.

It is a figure that simply exceeds what City consider reasonable for the deal, and one that has also persuaded Paris Saint-Germain to step away. The French champions, long linked with the France international, are no longer pursuing a move at that level.

Gusto fits the profile City usually chase. Still only 23, already a France international, and with several seasons of Premier League experience behind him, he ticks the boxes for age and pedigree. The former Lyon full-back arrived at Chelsea for a fraction of his current valuation, which tells its own story about his development in England.

Whether Chelsea soften their stance remains to be seen. For now, the gap between valuation and willingness is the story.

James Trafford's time at the Etihad is over, with the goalkeeper completing a £45m move to Leeds United. The fee makes him the Yorkshire club's record signing, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The deal also contains a future-profit clause in City's favour, so a slice of any eventual sale will find its way back to Manchester. For a 23-year-old England international who has yet to establish himself as a regular starter, that is a sensible piece of structuring.

Earlier in the day, the talk was of a fee closer to £40m. The final figure suggests Leeds were determined to get their man on Wednesday, and City were happy to let them pay for the privilege.

Trafford only came back to the Etihad from Burnley last summer. With the competition for the number one shirt as fierce as it is, a permanent move in search of regular football always looked the likeliest outcome this window.

An academy product who rose through the ranks at City, he impressed during his loan spells away from the club earlier in his career. A fresh start, with the promise of regular Premier League football, suits this stage of his development.

The funds from this sale also arrive at a useful moment. City have been closing in on Geronimo Rulli as the experienced option to add depth behind the first choice, and the money banked here gives the club the room to finish that deal without delay.

Next week is shaping up to be the moment of truth for Rodri's future at Manchester City. The Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder is expected to sit down with Enzo Maresca when he returns to the club early next week, with reports suggesting Barcelona have already made their move to sign him.

Ben Jacobs has reported that Rodri will hold talks over his future with the City manager in the coming days. Pol Ballús and Mario Cortegana of The Athletic have added that Barcelona are exploring the possibility of signing the midfielder, having held talks with his camp, and that Rodri's preference is to join the Catalan club rather than Real Madrid.

Fabrizio Romano goes further, claiming Rodri has already agreed personal terms with Barcelona, with negotiations between the clubs said to be imminent. Barcelona, according to Romano, want to get a deal done as soon as possible.

The constant rumours linking City's midfield general with a move to Real Madrid have been relentless since the World Cup ended. Now it looks like Barcelona are the front-runners. Rodri himself believes that Barcelona's playing style, coupled with the fact that eight members of Spain's World Cup squad play there, would make for a smooth transition.

Rodri is currently on holiday after his efforts for Spain at the World Cup, and has yet to formally declare his intentions. But with so much smoke, it's hard to dismiss the move as mere speculation.

Jacobs reports that City are relaxed about the situation. Even if Rodri doesn't leave this summer, the club aren't concerned about losing him for free when his contract expires next summer. That's a confident position, and perhaps the right one, given the circumstances.

The one significant obstacle remains money. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona, with their well-documented financial constraints, could afford City's asking price for one of the world's best midfielders.

If Rodri tells Maresca he wants to leave, the speculation finally has a resolution: it will be up to Barcelona to submit a suitable offer, or City will simply keep hold of him for the final year of his contract. The sooner that clarity arrives, the better for all parties. Next week looks likely to provide it, allowing City to plan for a future either with or without their midfield anchor.

If there was any hope that the Rodri saga might quietly fizzle out this summer, events on Thursday evening suggested otherwise. City have been in contact with the camp of Alexis Mac Allister, exploring the possibility of bringing the Liverpool midfielder to the Etihad as a replacement for the Spain international.

The claim comes from Matt Thielen, co-owner and editor-in-chief of LFC Transfer Room, who posted on X at 5:59pm on August 6 that City had made contact with Mac Allister's representatives. Thielen, a judge at the 2021 Football Content Awards, said the Argentine is on City's shortlist of potential reinforcements should Rodri leave.

Mac Allister has been at Anfield since 2023, winning the Premier League and the EFL Cup once each with the Reds. At 27, he is at the peak of his powers, and City evidently view him as a suitable candidate to fill the void left by Rodri.

That void is looking increasingly likely. Rodri is out of contract in the summer of 2027, and there are no signs he will extend his stay at the Etihad. Real Madrid have long been linked with the 30-year-old, but according to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, the Spanish giants have now walked away.

"Real were somewhat shocked by the news from Rodri and his camp that Barcelona had emerged as a potentially better landing spot, and they were informed of that earlier this week," Bailey told TEAMtalk.

Bailey says Madrid had spent months outlining the role they wanted Rodri to play, with Jose Mourinho fully behind the move. But the club's hierarchy have decided to back away, taking a simple stance: if you're not fully committed to Real Madrid, you're not the player they want.

"They wish Rodri well, but they only wanted him if he genuinely saw his future at the Bernabeu," Bailey added. "Real are adamant they are walking away, and Rodri's camp accepts that."

The immediate consequence, as Bailey notes, is that City once again lose the leverage of having two major clubs competing for his signature. With Madrid out of the picture, Barcelona appear to be the only serious destination for Rodri — which could simplify negotiations, even if it makes a departure more likely.

For City, the focus turns to Mac Allister. Whether the Argentine would actually leave Liverpool for a direct rival remains to be seen, but the groundwork has been laid. If Rodri does go, the Blues will need a plan. Mac Allister appears to be it.

Nico Gonzalez has moved to end any speculation over his future, insisting he is settled at Manchester City and has no plans to move on this summer. The Spanish midfielder, speaking to Sam Lee of The Athletic, was unequivocal about his intentions.

“I’m happy here. I don’t want to leave and I think the club wants me to stay, I haven’t seen anything, but I’m happy here.”

The comments arrive as City’s midfield picture begins to take shape. Mateo Kovacic has also confirmed he will stay for the 2026-27 campaign, meaning Enzo Maresca now has clarity over two key options in the middle of the park.

Fighting for His Place

Gonzalez is under no illusions about the competition. He acknowledged that no player is guaranteed a starting spot under Maresca and that he will have to earn his minutes.

“I don’t think any player has the position guaranteed for all the matches. Everyone has to work hard. We are one of the best teams in the world and obviously there is competition in every position. That is what makes us be in the position that we are, winning so many Premier Leagues and competing for everything.”

It is a pragmatic outlook, but one that reflects the reality at a club where depth is a strength. The former Porto man knows he must fight for his place, and he seems more than willing to do so.

A Crucial Season Ahead

The upcoming campaign looms as a significant one for Gonzalez. During the first half of last season, he stepped into Rodri’s role superbly, helping lay the foundation for the second half of the 2025-26 campaign. That form underlined his value, and with Rodri’s future still uncertain, Gonzalez could become even more important.

He is a bonafide number six, capable of anchoring midfield and linking with the likes of Elliot Anderson. Given the role Maresca values so highly, Gonzalez’s presence offers reassurance.

Depending on how the remaining weeks of the transfer window unfold, his importance may only grow. For now, though, City fans can take comfort in knowing that one of their key midfielders is fully committed to the cause.

Manchester City have ended their search for a right-back, with the club satisfied that the position is already well covered. Despite previous interest in Chelsea's Malo Gusto, the Blues have decided against pursuing a deal.

According to Bajkowski's report, City had been monitoring the French international, but Chelsea's £75 million asking price proved a stumbling block. The decision to walk away appears straightforward.

Instead, Matheus Nunes will continue as the first-choice right-back, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis also capable of filling in when needed. Reis, in particular, is set to stay at the club for next season, having slotted in at right-back during the pre-season friendly against the K-League All-Stars.

That opportunity could be significant for the Brazilian. Playing at right-back offers him a clearer path to regular minutes than simply serving as cover at centre-back.

Enzo Maresca's tactical setup is central to this decision. The head coach typically wants one of his full-backs to invert into midfield, and City have plenty of options to fulfil that role. On the left, Nico O'Reilly, Josko Gvardiol, and potentially Rayan Ait-Nouri can all do the job. On the right, Nunes and Rico Lewis are both capable of stepping inside.

If O'Reilly, in particular, becomes a regular inverted option, Maresca can even deploy a centre-back at right-back. In possession, City revert to a back three, which gives the system added flexibility.

The pre-season friendlies against Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars have already offered a glimpse of this approach, with Khusanov and Reis sharing duties at right-back. It is an experiment that appears to have convinced the coaching staff that no new signing is necessary.

Whether this faith in the current squad proves justified will become clear once the season begins. For now, City's stance is clear: the right-back position is not a priority.

After a summer of movement between the sticks, City's number one situation has finally taken shape. James Trafford has completed a permanent switch to Leeds United, with Gerónimo Rulli poised to arrive as his replacement.

The 23-year-old's exit brings an end to his second spell at the Etihad. Trafford returned from Burnley last summer, only for the arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG to push him down the pecking order into a backup and cup goalkeeper role.

It was a role he took to with some conviction. Trafford started both finals in City's FA Cup and Carabao Cup double, and his triple-save against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley proved pivotal. His form across the FA Cup run was similarly central to that triumph.

Now he gets the chance to be Leeds' first-choice keeper, a move he framed in terms of personal ambition.

"Manchester City will always mean a lot to me. My two spells here were both really positive. To come through the Academy, learn the City way of playing football and spend time with so many top coaches and young players gave me a fantastic platform to have a career in the game."

He added: "And to then come back and win two trophies felt really special. I have dreams and ambitions in the game to achieve, but I will always think of City with affection."

With Trafford gone, City have moved quickly. Foot Mercato report that an agreement has been reached with Olympique Marseille that will see Rulli become Donnarumma's understudy. The financial details have not been released.

It gives Enzo Maresca's squad an experienced deputy, and the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders finally have clarity in goal heading into the 2026-27 season.

There is a new name on the recruitment radar, and he is still a schoolboy. Manchester City are among the clubs pushing hardest for Flamengo midfielder Kaua Pavuna, a 15-year-old already drawing comparisons to one of the most famous names in Brazilian football.

Those who have watched him closely see echoes of Ronaldinho, the former Flamengo idol whose shadow still looms large over the club's academy. Whether Pavuna ever reaches those heights is anyone's guess, but the hype is real enough that Europe's biggest sides are paying attention.

A family tour of Europe

The teenager's parents have spent recent weeks travelling around Europe, visiting training grounds and meeting academy staff. The trip was arranged to give the family a clearer sense of the pathways on offer, with representatives from both City and Arsenal presenting their long-term development plans.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are also understood to be monitoring the midfielder. That makes this one of the more high-profile youth recruitment battles of a summer dominated by academy-level investment from the continent's elite.

Scouts have been tracking Pavuna since as early as 2025, drawn by a profile that blends natural Brazilian flair with a directness and positional intelligence that suits the modern European game.

No offer yet

For all the noise, there is no official offer on the table. Flamengo have been deliberate in their approach, avoiding any discussion of transfer valuations and keeping the emphasis firmly on Pavuna's continued development in the Brazilian system.

The club are shielding their latest academy standout from the commercial pressures that come with interest at this level, keen to ensure the teenager's development remains the priority rather than becoming distracted by the scale of the attention surrounding him.

Any move would be a long-term investment rather than an immediate addition, given the regulatory restrictions on players of his age moving to Europe.

Part of a wider plan

The interest adds a South American dimension to City's academy strategy, reflecting director of football Hugo Viana's broader approach that extends well beyond the immediate requirements of the first team and into the longer-term pipeline.

It has already been a significant summer at the Etihad. The club record £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson led the way, while the dual academy coups of Jeremy Monga from Leicester and Mishel Nduka from Arsenal's Hale End demonstrated City's growing dominance in the competition for elite young English talent.

Pavuna would represent a different kind of coup entirely. The groundwork is being laid. Whether it pays off remains to be seen.

For a club accustomed to controlling the narrative, Manchester City suddenly find themselves reacting to it. The possibility of losing Rodri — the heartbeat of their midfield and a World Cup winner with Spain — in Enzo Maresca's first summer at the helm is no longer a distant worry but a looming reality.

The 30-year-old's contract runs until the summer of 2027, but with no renewal agreed and the clock ticking, the club are facing a familiar dilemma: cash in now or risk losing him for nothing in a year's time.

The Suitors Circle

Real Madrid have been the most persistent admirers, reportedly planning as if Rodri's arrival is a foregone conclusion. The Bernabeu remains the player's preferred destination, which gives the Spanish giants a natural advantage. Yet recent days have seen talks quieten significantly, leaving room for another heavyweight to step in.

That heavyweight appears to be Barcelona. The Catalan club are set to enter the race this summer, potentially turning a straightforward negotiation into something far more complicated — and far more expensive.

Where there was once a single bidder, there may now be two of Spain's biggest clubs wrestling over the same prize. City, for their part, will be watching with interest. If they can secure more than the expected €75million (£64m) fee, the financial blow of losing a generational talent softens considerably.

More Than Just Rodri

Rodri's situation is not isolated. This is shaping up to be a summer of significant upheaval at the Etihad. Mateo Kovacic has announced he will be staying, which offers some continuity, but elsewhere the exits are mounting.

James Trafford's move to Leeds United is imminent. Jack Grealish is expected to leave. Omar Marmoush and Tijjani Reijnders could both depart. Elliot Anderson has arrived from Nottingham Forest, a useful addition, but he alone cannot replace the influence of a player like Rodri.

Maresca, then, faces a delicate balancing act in his first transfer window. The squad is being reshaped whether he likes it or not, and the departure of his most important midfielder would define the entire summer.

One thing is certain: the next few weeks will determine not just Rodri's future, but the direction of City's midfield for years to come.

Manchester City's pursuit of Eduardo Conceicao has hit a wall, with Palmeiras deciding to keep hold of the 16-year-old winger and push him into their senior setup.

The Brazilian club have effectively parked the interest of City and Manchester United, who had been circling the teenager alongside Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

Palmeiras have now resolved to retain Conceicao and promote him into the senior squad.

It is a notable shift in stance. United, for their part, had gone furthest in formal discussions, with reports suggesting they were ready to table an offer. But Palmeiras have cooled on selling, with the timing of any move complicated by the simple fact that Conceicao cannot officially sign for a European club until he turns 18.

Even if a deal were struck this summer, he would not physically arrive until January 2028 at the earliest. That wait appears to have changed the calculus in São Paulo.

Should Palmeiras relent in future windows, they are holding out for around £42 million. His release clause, meanwhile, is understood to be set at roughly £85 million.

For City, this is one of several youth-level threads in a summer that has already delivered the club-record £116 million arrival of Elliot Anderson. The academy has also been busy, with Jeremy Monga arriving from Leicester and Mishel Nduka poached from Arsenal's Hale End.

On the senior side, Geronimo Rulli is close to joining from Marseille as backup goalkeeper, while the pursuit of Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi remains the most significant piece of ongoing business, with a verbal agreement on personal terms already in place.

The Conceicao update does not close the door entirely. A player of his profile is expected to stay on the radar of director of football Hugo Viana, even if Palmeiras have, for now, decided the teenager is worth more to them on the pitch than in the transfer market.

Jeremy Monga has revealed that joining Manchester City was an easy decision, even though Arsenal came close to landing the teenager.

The 17-year-old, who impressed at Leicester City before his move, admitted that the Gunners' interest was strong. Speaking to BBC Sport, he said: "It [Arsenal interest] was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close."

But in the end, the pathway and the club's success swayed him. "The main decision was probably the pathway and the club itself," Monga explained. "They've been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call."

For a player with ambitions of lifting trophies, the choice was clear. "It's every child's dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best," he added.

Monga has already shown flashes of his ability in pre-season, and he is eager to make an impact. "Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself," he said.

He also made it clear where his future lies. "I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue."

The England youth international may need to be patient under Enzo Maresca, but the early signs are promising.

James Trafford's time at Manchester City appears to be drawing to a close, with the goalkeeper having completed his medical ahead of a permanent move to Leeds United.

According to The Athletic's Beren Cross, the 23-year-old began his medical on Monday and concluded it with Elland Road staff over the course of the week. The transfer is now reportedly close to being finalised.

It has previously been reported by The Athletic that the deal will be worth a guaranteed £40 million to City, plus add-ons.

Trafford, a City Academy graduate, joined under Pep Guardiola last summer thanks to a buy-back clause in his Burnley agreement. But with City also moving to sign Paris Saint-Germain and Italy No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma later in the same transfer window, he quickly found himself as the club's designated second-choice goalkeeper.

His first — and perhaps only — season at the Etihad was a mixed one. He endured a mixture of emotions, but there were highlights: runs to both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup finals, against Chelsea and Arsenal respectively, where he recorded numerous clean sheets at Wembley and finished with both trophies.

Now he has agreed to step away from City on a permanent basis, joining Leeds in what is described as a record-breaking move for the Whites.

For a player who never truly got a look-in as City's No.1, the £40 million guaranteed fee represents a significant return. Trafford, presumably, will be relieved to be heading somewhere he can actually play.

Jamie Carragher has waded into the title debate with a prediction that will have Arsenal supporters reaching for the mute button: Manchester City, he insists, go straight back to the top under Enzo Maresca.

The logic is straightforward enough. City finished second last season while operating below their own exacting standards, and have since backed the new manager with serious money. Elliot Anderson has arrived to give the midfield a different pulse, and Maresca walks into a dressing room that still contains Erling Haaland and Phil Foden. This is not a rebuild. It is a refresh.

The Pep question

Carragher is not blind to the obvious objection. Pep Guardiola has gone, and ten years of one manager leaves a particular kind of void. But he frames it differently.

“When you’ve had the same manager for ten years, the flip side of what people will say is that it’s hard to come after him. Just something a little bit new, a little bit fresh.”

Freshness, in other words, cuts both ways. Maresca knows the club, inherits an exceptional squad, and might benefit from the novelty of his own ideas after a decade of Guardiola's.

The Rodri caveat

There is one scenario that changes everything. Carragher was blunt about it: if Rodri went to Real Madrid, the prediction goes out the window.

“I think if Rodri left for Real Madrid then I wouldn’t be saying that.”

He also questioned the logic of even entertaining offers in the region of £40m for a player he considers the best in his position.

“If you’re City, what’s the point in selling Rodri? What’s the point? Just get another year out of him and let him go for free. He’s the best in his position. What’s £40m for City?”

talkSPORT's own reporting backs that view, suggesting City's title hopes would be seriously weakened if the Spain international departed. Barcelona's lingering interest only adds another layer of complication, potentially dragging negotiations into a bidding war nobody at the Etihad wants.

Arsenal still edge it on paper

None of this dismisses Arsenal. They enter the season as defending champions, have strengthened an already formidable squad, and remain slight favourites on the strength of continuity and defensive solidity. Carragher's own reasoning acknowledges they were close last year — close enough that the gap feels bridgeable.

His prediction, for all the noise it will generate, is a reasonable one. If Rodri stays fit and committed, City have the quality to reclaim the title. Without him, Arsenal's chances of retaining it increase significantly.

What's £40m, indeed.

Lille have already started planning for the departure of Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Real Madrid's Jorge Cestero emerging as their preferred replacement for the midfielder expected to join City.

Bouaddi's move to the Etihad has been one of the summer's defining sagas. City have spent weeks trying to structure a deal that suits all parties, and the 18-year-old is understood to have agreed personal terms. What remains is the finer detail: Lille want to keep him on loan for the 2026-27 season, and that has complicated negotiations.

Yet the club's recruitment team has not been idle. According to Matteo Moretto, they have identified Cestero, a Castilla prospect who has impressed in Real Madrid's reserve setup and attracted attention from across Europe. His profile — age, technical quality, developmental ceiling — is seen as a close match for what Bouaddi offered.

That Lille are actively scouting successors suggests they have accepted the direction of travel, even if president Olivier Létang's public statements suggest a tougher negotiating stance. It is a matter of when, not if.

For City, Bouaddi remains the most significant piece of business still on the table. The club have already broken their transfer record to land Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, with Geronimo Rulli expected to follow from Marseille. James Trafford is close to joining Leeds, and Tijjani Reijnders has emerged as a target for Forest in a deal worth around £60 million.

Rodri's future is also developing, with Real Madrid understood to have an agreement with the player and club-to-club talks ongoing. The Spain international is into the final year of his contract at the Etihad, and Barcelona are exploring a deal as well.

City were expected to have completed more business by now, but fringe-player departures are likely to accelerate in the coming weeks. That could free up the space — and the funds — to finally bring Bouaddi through the door.

Barcelona have made no secret of their ambition this summer. The latest target on their list is Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder, and the Catalan club's interest is described as serious.

The Spain captain fits the profile Hansi Flick wants. His game is built on the sort of possession-based control Flick favours, and the relationships he already has with several international teammates would help him settle quickly. Barcelona need a specialist who can shield the back line, giving Pedri the freedom to operate higher up the pitch.

On paper, it is easy to see the appeal. Rodri would bring elite positional awareness and controlled distribution, plus genuine protection against counterattacks. His experience would also steady a young squad that expects to compete for every major honour. As a tactical fit, he would improve Barcelona's balance immediately.

The complications are financial, not footballing

But this is Barcelona, and nothing is ever straightforward. Their window has already required significant spending, and another blockbuster deal would put fresh strain on the club's finances. City, for their part, are unlikely to make negotiations easy.

According to The Athletic, Barcelona have spoken with Rodri's representatives to understand what a transfer would involve. The 30-year-old is reportedly drawn to the project, particularly the style of play and the dressing-room environment. Whether that translates into a formal approach is another matter.

Real Madrid remain involved and still represent genuine competition for his signature. Their presence could start an auction, strengthen City's negotiating position, and force Barcelona to move sooner than they would like.

There is also the small matter of what City have already spent. Sky Sports reported that Anthony Gordon arrived from Newcastle in a package worth €80 million including add-ons. That attacking investment makes the pursuit more difficult, especially if City demand another major fee for their midfield anchor.

A decision that could shape the rest of their window

The player's preference will be decisive. If Madrid are clearly his first choice, Barcelona would be wise to avoid letting the saga drag on and delay other business.

The risks are obvious: his age, his salary, and the cost of the transfer. Barcelona should stay involved, but they must not let a Clasico rivalry push them beyond a sensible financial limit.

Rodri would be an outstanding addition. The question is whether Barcelona can afford to make it happen.

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.

The question arrives on day one, and it does not wait for the season to start. Every manager who takes the City job is asked it, usually before they have even unpacked: what can you actually do in year one?

Enzo Maresca is the latest to hear it. He is now in his first season in the City dugout, and the same old interrogation has already begun.

A club with no pattern

If the new manager looks to history for comfort, he will not find a consistent answer. The range of outcomes at this club is enormous. Some men have walked in and won things immediately. Trophies, title challenges, the lot. Others have needed time, or simply never got going.

The spread is so wide that precedent offers little guidance.

History says the range of outcomes at this club is enormous.

So where does he land?

The honest answer is that nobody knows yet. Maresca's debut campaign will be judged against a very wide range of precedents, and the only certainty is that the question will keep coming until he answers it himself.

Somewhere between immediate silverware and a slow start, the truth of this era will emerge.

The noise around Savinho's future is getting harder to ignore. With the Brazilian's standing at the Etihad having dipped over the past year, City are preparing for life without him — and Pedro Neto is the name at the top of their list.

Sources indicate that City are increasingly likely to move for the Chelsea winger if Savinho departs before the 3 September deadline. The Blues have been anticipating the wideman's exit for some time, and a formal approach for Neto is expected once that transfer progresses.

There is a sense of inevitability about Savinho's departure. Former City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider at the end of June that he wouldn't be surprised if his former club have "already done" a deal behind the scenes. He believes it is in City's interests to cash in for a fee in the region of £60m, and described the exit as effectively all-but-done.

Tottenham have pursued the ex-Girona man continually over the last 12 months, though Borson's comments suggest the groundwork may already be laid elsewhere. City, he says, need to balance their SCR standing and wage bill — a delicate operation that makes a sale of this size almost inevitable.

Savinho's trajectory at the Etihad has been a strange one. He impressed with eight assists in the Premier League in 2024-25, but struggled for both form and game time last term. That decline has opened the door for a parting of ways.

Neto price tag

Should City move for Neto, they know exactly what it will cost. Chelsea are holding out for £70m for the Portuguese international. City, for their part, view that as decent value in today's market.

Neto ticks a box that matters to City: he is proven in the Premier League, having ended last season with five goals and six assists to his name in the league. At 26, he fits the profile of a player who can contribute immediately rather than one who needs time to adapt.

There is also the small matter of familiarity. Enzo Maresca has already worked with Neto previously, and City are keen to help the new boss mould the squad in his image following Pep Guardiola's exit. A player who knows the manager's methods and the demands of English football is an appealing proposition.

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown, now a regular source of transfer insight, told Football Insider earlier this week that Neto's potential move to the Etihad is "one to watch" in the final month of the window. He has emphasised that a deal could happen in the coming weeks.

Brown believes Neto would provide an "upgrade" on some of City's current options in the wide areas — a pointed assessment of the squad's recent struggles in those positions. He also made it clear that Chelsea are "not ruling out selling anyone" this summer, even if Neto is not one of their top candidates for an exit.

The West Londoners are reluctant to lose the former Wolves man, but they would entertain a sale if the money was right. They also know they will need funds for further additions to Xabi Alonso's squad. Football's food chain, as ever, requires movement at every level.

At £70m, Neto would not be a cheap acquisition. But for a club in transition, with a new manager and a squad needing refresh, it may be a price worth paying. City are also expecting exits of their own before the deadline, so the financial picture is far from static.

Whether Savinho's departure is confirmed in the coming days or dragged out to the wire, the direction of travel is clear. Neto is the man City want, and the pieces are falling into place.

There is a particular kind of education that only comes from being thrown in at the deep end. Max Alleyne got that education in January, when Manchester City's defensive options collapsed around them and the phone rang with an early recall from Watford.

Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol had both gone down with serious injuries. City needed bodies. In stepped a young defender who had been quietly impressing in the Championship, and Pep Guardiola did not waste any time easing him in. Alleyne started immediately against Brighton at the Etihad and went on to make seven appearances before the season was out.

That experience is showing now. In City's opening friendlies of pre-season, against Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars, Alleyne has come on at half-time in both matches and looked a more mature player for the six months he spent around Guardiola's squad.

Quietly doing the unglamorous work

Enzo Maresca's system, much like Guardiola's, asks a lot of its defenders. The line sits high, the space behind is inviting, and anyone wearing a City shirt has to be alert to the ball over the top and the threat of the counter. Against two opponents happy to spring forward, that has been a genuine test.

Alleyne has passed it. He has closed down danger well, and his anticipation of what might develop has stood out. He is not yet a game-breaking presence in possession, but he knows where the ball should go and how to keep City's passing machine ticking over. On both sides of the ball, the understanding of the club's concepts is evident.

That is no accident. The final six months of last season, spent as a member of Guardiola's squad, have prepared him for life under Maresca.

The numbers behind the need

There is a practical reason this all matters. City will need five centre-backs for the coming campaign, because entering a season with four recognised options and a schedule that could stretch to 60 games is asking for trouble.

Last season proved the point. The constant fitness problems of John Stones and Nathan Ake hurt the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, and the situation came to a head in January when Gvardiol and Dias both went down against Chelsea, forcing the recall of Alleyne in the first place. It is a set of circumstances nobody at the club will want to repeat.

Vitor Reis has looked the favourite for that fifth-choice role, impressing at centre-back in both friendlies. But Alleyne, working quietly alongside him, has made a case of his own. There is an argument that he is more physically ready for the demands of English football right now, and that for the time being he might be a step ahead of Reis in his development.

Both players figure to be prominent in City's defence in the years ahead. For now, though, Alleyne's performances in these first two friendlies look like those of a player who has grown up fast. Fifth-choice centre-back for 2026-27? It is not a far-fetched notion at all.

Enzo Maresca has offered little clarity on Vitor Reis's immediate future, leaving the young defender's fate hanging until the close of pre-season. The City manager, speaking after Wednesday's 3-1 win over K-League All Stars in Seoul, was warm in his praise but deliberately vague on what comes next for the Brazilian.

"Vitor is working very well. I am happy with him," said Maresca.

That was as far as he would go. Pressed on whether Reis would stay or head out on loan again, the manager pointed to the wider picture.

"The only thing is for most of the young players here with us, the plan is to finish pre-season and then take the final decision. And we will take the best decision for them, not just us."

Reis, 20, arrived from Palmeiras in January 2025 for around £12.5 million, a fee that reflected the club's long-standing interest in a defender viewed as a future first-team regular. Last season he spent on loan at Girona, gaining La Liga experience before returning to Manchester this summer.

He has since been part of the touring squad for City's east Asia pre-season, training under Maresca's direct supervision in both Hong Kong and Seoul. The manager has had a first-hand look at a player who has clearly impressed those working with him day to day.

Reis himself has spoken openly about wanting to force his way into Maresca's plans for 2026-27, naming the new manager as a source of genuine excitement.

His situation is just one strand of a busy summer at the Etihad. The headline incoming business remains the British record £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, with goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli imminently arriving from Marseille. On the way out, James Trafford is close to joining Leeds United, while Tijjani Reijnders has been linked with a £60 million move to Forest as City manage a deepening midfield group.

The pursuit of Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi remains live, with direct contact made at the highest level between the clubs. And in the background, Rodri's own situation continues to develop, with Real Madrid reportedly having reached a personal agreement with the player as club-to-club talks over a fee progress.

For Reis, the waiting continues. Maresca's words were kind, but the door remains ajar — in which direction, nobody is saying yet.

Jeremy Monga has offered a rare glimpse into the thinking behind his summer move to Manchester City, describing the club's pull as irresistible once they came calling.

The 17-year-old winger, who joined from Leicester City earlier in the transfer window, was the subject of intense interest from Arsenal. In an interview with the BBC, he admitted the Gunners' pursuit had been serious — so serious that he came close to heading to north London.

“It [Arsenal interest] was very strong because it was very close to me going there, very close,” Monga said.

But City won the race, and the teenager says the deciding factors were straightforward. The pathway on offer at the FA Cup and Carabao Cup holders, plus the club itself, swung it. On the pitch, City's recent success made the call an easy one.

“They've been so successful that it was a no-brainer when City call,” he said.

Monga's ambitions are clear. He wants trophies, to be among the best, and he sees his future in sky blue.

“It's every child's dream to win trophies and be at the top with the best. Once I get the opportunity I just need to show myself, and once I do that, everything will take care of itself.”

He also revealed where he feels most at home.

“I feel like, to me personally, I see myself at City more. I see myself in blue.”

First minutes, first signs

Monga got his first taste of senior City action in the 3-1 friendly win over the K-League All-Stars, coming on for Rayan Ait-Nouri in the 62nd minute. It was a short outing, but enough to show why there was such a scrap for his signature.

He had a goal chalked off for handball, but not before showing composure to beat keeper Gu Sung-Yun. There were also chances to run at the defence down the left, where he looked a constant threat.

At 17, he is one for the future rather than the immediate present. He is unlikely to be a prominent figure in Enzo Maresca's plans this season, but the early signs suggest the hype is justified.

The question of where Vitor Reis plays his football this season is becoming the most intriguing subplot of City's summer. Two composed displays against Inter Milan and the K-League All-Stars have only sharpened the debate.

The 3-1 win at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday gave Maresca another look at a defender who looks increasingly like the finished article. Cool in possession, unflappable under pressure, reading the game before it happens — Reis ticks every box City look for in a centre-back.

"Vitor is working very well. I am happy with him. The only thing is for most of the young players here with us, the plan is to finish pre-season and then take the final decision. And we will take the best decision for them, not just us."

That decision, Maresca confirmed, will be made once the squad returns to Manchester. Whether Reis stays as fifth-choice centre-back or heads out on loan again remains genuinely up in the air.

Girona year has transformed the Brazilian

Twelve months in La Liga on loan at Girona have clearly accelerated his development. The difference in his game is striking — more confident, more mature, more assured in everything he does. The raw talent was always there; the seasoning was what he needed.

Staying at the Etihad has obvious appeal. As fifth-choice he would train with the first team daily and learn from the best. But there is a catch: he may not play often enough to keep growing. At 20, Reis needs minutes, not just sessions.

The alternative is another loan, ideally to a Premier League club or one competing in the Champions League. That path would give him consistent football at the highest level, before returning next summer ready to anchor the City defence for a decade.

One thing is certain. There is no chance City entertain selling him. Reis looms as the future of this defence, and everyone at the club knows it. The only question is how best to get him there.

Tijjani Reijnders continues to be a name on the lips of Europe's gossip columns, with Nottingham Forest the latest club credited with an interest in the Dutch midfielder.

Forest's admiration, however, appears to be just that. No formal bid has been reported, and while Juventus and Galatasaray have also been linked, there is little to suggest any of it is about to turn into something more concrete.

City, for their part, are hardly in a position to be rushed. Reijnders remains under contract, which gives the Blues a firm footing. Should any club wish to test their resolve, they know the asking price: somewhere in the region of £55-60m.

That valuation may give suitors pause, or it may simply be the starting point for a negotiation. Either way, the initiative rests with City.

For now, the speculation continues to swirl. Whether Forest's interest ever develops into something firmer remains to be seen, but the club are under no obligation to entertain anything less than a serious offer.

Adam Catterall of talkSPORT has thrown his weight behind Manchester City's bid to reclaim the Premier League crown, but with one significant caveat: the fitness and presence of Rodri could be the deciding factor.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Catterall backed the Blues to challenge Arsenal for the title. Yet he warned that the outcome could look very different if the Spanish midfielder were to suffer an injury or depart the Etihad.

The timing is notable. City are still in pre-season, with the new campaign yet to get underway, and the usual chatter about who finishes where is already in full swing. Arsenal, as reigning champions, are the side everyone is aiming to catch.

Catterall's point is straightforward: keep Rodri fit and in sky blue, and City have a genuine shot at reclaiming the trophy. Let him slip away or spend a spell on the sidelines, and the picture shifts.

Whether the season actually unfolds that way remains to be seen. But if Catterall is right, the title race might just hinge on the health and happiness of one Spaniard in the middle of the pitch.