Manchester City have made a formal €70m offer for Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri who is close to accepting the deal, report Diario AS.
It follows on directly from a report in Cadena Cope on Thursday which claimed the player’s agent Pablo Barquero has informed Los Rojiblancos that his release clause will be deposited because his client wants to feel valued.
The fresh report claims Rodri ‘is closer to playing in Manchester than Madrid next season’ with a deal appearing increasingly likely.
The 22-year-old only joined Atleti from Villarreal in a deal worth an initial €20m plus a further €5m in add-ons but has since been linked with a move away.
Last 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.
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.
