Manchester City eye Enzo Fernandez as Rodri nears Barcelona move
Manchester City are targeting Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez to replace Rodri, who is expected to join Barcelona this weekend.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Ank kumar
The saga surrounding Rodri appears to be nearing its conclusion. Barcelona have submitted a third bid to Manchester City, raising the fixed fee to 70 million euros. Both clubs expect negotiations to reach an agreement as early as this weekend.
For Manchester City, offloading the Spain international provides vital breathing room under Financial Fair Play regulations, allowing the club to finance a replacement. Enzo Fernandez remains the top target to fill the void, with the midfielder having previously worked under new City boss Enzo Maresca.
The landscape of the deal has shifted as Chelsea has moved away from the specific departure terms that were previously on the table. City, however, are refusing to adhere to Chelsea's internal deadlines. The club hierarchy remains in constant contact with the Argentine's representatives while they wait for the Rodri deal to be finalized.
Chelsea maintain a strong bargaining position given the player is tied to the club until 2032. Manchester City must now determine the exact valuation required to convince Stamford Bridge to sanction the move.