Manchester City are prepared to break their transfer record to sign Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri in a €70m deal, according to reports.
The 22-year-old only joined Atleti from Villarreal in a deal worth an initial €20m plus a further €5m in add-ons, but now has been linked with a move away.
Earlier this month, Onda Cero reported that Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Manchester City are all keen on his signature.
The Madrid-native has won five international caps for Spain inside the past 12 months and is the latest Atleti midfielder to be linked to City, following on from Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey.
Rodri has been widely tipped to be the successor of Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets for the Spanish national team and City boss Pep Guardiola is said to see him in this mould.
The Telegraph claim City’s interest is strong but do qualify that the club may be banned from making transfers due to a UEFA investigation into signing young players.
Bayern have already raided Atleti to sign Lucas Hernandez in an €80m deal this summer and are prepared to continue investing in their squad.
The midfielder’s contract at Atleti runs through until 2023 but the club would be powerless to prevent him leaving should his €70m release clause be met.
