Barcelona Had an Initial Offer in the Region of £40M Knocked Back Last Week

Manchester City have rejected a new £55m bid from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri, with the Premier League club holding out for more than £60m for the 30-year-old Spain captain. Barcelona had an initial offer in the region of £40m knocked back last week. On Wednesday, Sky Sports News reported that Barca were expected to raise their offer to between £50m and £60m, but their latest bid is still not enough for City.

Barcelona remain determined to sign Rodri and are considering their next move. The midfielder has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. Sky Sports News has reported this summer that City do not want to sell Spain's World Cup-winning captain and instead want to agree a new contract with him.

However, if Rodri asks to leave, then they would not stand in his way. In a separate development, City are in advanced and positive talks with Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah about selling midfielder Tijjani Reijnders for a package in the region of £51.3m (€60m). Qadsiah view Reijnders as a world-class, peak-age player and are keen to strengthen in midfield ahead of their first Asian Champions League campaign.

Al Qadsiah are also about to move into their new Aramco Stadium. It means City could lose two central midfielders, but they also want to sign potentially two replacements, with interest in Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi. Chelsea have given City a deadline of Friday 5pm to make a £120m bid for Enzo, while talks remain ongoing with Lille for Bouaddi.