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2 weeks ago
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Barcelona have made an improved bid to Manchester City of around €60m (£51m) for Rodri. This follows Barça’s initial offer of €45m that was rejected out of hand by City.
The Spanish club’s new offer – which may include add-ons – is close to City’s valuation for the 30-year-old who captained Spain to the World Cup and won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
As the midfielder has declared a preference for Barcelona it seems it is inevitable he will leave. In preparation City are targeting Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández as a potential signing though the west London club’s valuation of around £120m may be too high.
Chelsea are understood to be intent on that price for the attacking midfielder so any transfer may include add-ons. Enzo Maresca is keen on Fernández after working with him for a season-and-a-half at Chelsea before his tenure ended in January.
The 25-year-old was a key member of Maresca’s team that finished fourth and won the Europa Conference in 2024-25 and the Fifa Club World Cup last summer.
If City were to sign Fernández, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, another midfielder could be offloaded, with Tijjani Reijnders a possible candidate to depart.
As Rodri is intent on a move to Barcelona the arrival of Fernández, Chelsea’s captain, would add seniority and leadership to Maresca’s squad and a player whose combative style would offer an edge to City’s play.
City have so far recruited Elliott Anderson for £116m from Nottingham Forest and are close to the signing of Ayyoub Bouaddi for around £85m from Lille.
Chelsea are thought to have enquired about Bournemouth’s Alex Scott as a replacement for Fernández should he leave.
City announced on Wednesday the signing of Gerónimo Rulli on a two-year deal following James Trafford’s move to Leeds. The Argentina goalkeeper was previously at the club in 2016-17.
The 34-year-old said: “My job now is to train hard, get to know the players and staff and do everything I can.”
Newly-promoted Hull have broken their transfer record to sign Senegal defender Nobel Mendy from Spanish side Rayo Vallecano. They also signed Australia international Lucas Herrington on Wednesday.
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The Tigers have not disclosed the fee for the 21-year-old Mendy but it exceeds the reported £20m they paid for Greece goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis last week.
Mendy, who has one international cap and previously played for Paris FC and Real Betis, has signed a five-year deal, with an option for a further 12 months.
He finished his only season with Rayo Vallecano with an appearance in May’s Conference League final loss to Crystal Palace.
“I have wanted to play in the Premier League since I was little, so it’s a great challenge to face and I am ready for it,” Mendy told Hull’s website.
Herrington, 18, became Australia’s youngest player to start a World Cup game for the Socceroos this summer, and arrived from MLS side Colorado Rapids on a five-year deal.
