The main contenders to replace Rodri at Man City

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Manchester City are already weighing possible replacements for Rodri, with the midfielder heavily linked to a move back to Spain. Rodri, 30, is in the final year of his contract and City have already turned down a reported £38.5m offer from Barcelona, while interest from Real Madrid is also mentioned. The piece says the club would face a major gap if he left after seven seasons, especially given his status as a Champions League and international winner.

The article highlights four main options. Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, of Lille is described as a deep-lying midfielder who could cost around £85m, though that figure is reported rather than confirmed. Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea is presented as the preferred choice of new City boss Enzo Maresca, but Chelsea are expected to resist any sale and are said to value him at £120m. Alex Scott of Bournemouth is another target, valued by City for his energy, ball carrying and passing, while Bournemouth have already rejected a separate big offer for him and want to keep him. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister is also listed as a surprise possibility, with his Premier League experience seen as a plus.

BBC Sport adds that any Rodri departure would also deepen City’s wider leadership question, with Bernardo Silva leaving and other experienced figures moving on. Maresca is said to want a homegrown presence in the leadership group, with Ruben Dias emerging as a likely captaincy option if Rodri goes. The report places the issue in the context of a squad transition as City prepare for the season.