Barcelona has intensified its pursuit of Manchester City midfielder Rodri, submitting an improved bid of roughly €60 million (£51 million). This follows the rejection of an earlier €45 million offer by the Premier League club. The new valuation is reportedly closer to Manchester City's internal assessment of the 30-year-old, who recently captained Spain to a World Cup victory and secured the 2024 Ballon d'Or.

While the transfer remains in the negotiation phase, reports suggest that Rodri has expressed a preference for a move to Barcelona, leading to speculation that his departure from Manchester may be imminent. Manchester City is already preparing for a potential vacancy in their midfield. The club has identified Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández as a primary target to fill the role should Rodri leave.

However, significant financial hurdles remain. Chelsea is reportedly valuing Fernández at approximately £120 million, a figure that Manchester City may find prohibitively expensive. The situation remains fluid as both clubs navigate these high-stakes valuations and the potential restructuring of their respective squads.