Manchester City will pay the €70m release clause of Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri on Wednesday, according to reports in Spain.
La Sexta say the English champions will release the funds to land ‘one of the most important players in Spanish football’ as they aim to hasten a move.
Alongside Bayern Munich, City are said to hold a strong interest in the central midfielder, whose €70m release clause appears to be attainable for Europe’s leading clubs.
The 22-year-old only joined Los Rojiblancos 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.
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 in the Spanish capital runs through until 2023 but the club would be powerless to prevent him leaving should his €70m release clause be met.
