Barcelona's Rodri bid rejected
Barcelona wanted Rodri. City said no. The Catalan club made a formal offer for the midfielder, but City rejected it and expect over £60m before they even consider selling (1). Rodri remains central to everything under Enzo Maresca. Real Madrid are also circling, reportedly prepared to meet City's valuation after their record deal for Yan Diomandé.
Bouaddi deal close, personal terms agreed
City are closing in on Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Personal terms are now agreed between the player's camp and the club, and Bouaddi wants the move this summer rather than waiting until 2027 (2) (4). Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez is also on City's radar as an alternative option if the Bouaddi deal stalls (2).
Community Shield this Sunday
Your season starts with silverware on the line. Arsenal host City in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 16 (5). A familiar fixture that splits opinion on how much it really matters for the title race, but a trophy is a trophy.
Neto on the radar
City are among the clubs tracking Chelsea winger Pedro Neto. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid are also interested (6). The link makes sense with Savinho reportedly pushing for a move to Spurs after limited minutes last season.
Fan reactions
The Bouaddi news has lifted the mood. Fans are already slotting him into lineups alongside Tijjani Reijnders, who impressed during pre-season and looks like a real option in the double pivot. One popular post maps out a midfield pairing of Reijnders and Bouaddi in front of the back four. Meanwhile, pre-season clips of Savinho's skills against the K-League All Stars are doing the rounds, a reminder of what he can do before a possible exit. Discuss the Bouaddi deal
