Manchester City are reported to be progressing talks with Lille over Ayyoub Bouaddi while Rodri moves closer to a transfer to Barcelona, potentially reshaping both clubs' midfields before the window closes.
Multiple outlets reported that City are in advanced discussions for Bouaddi, with the BBC identifying the 18-year-old Morocco midfielder as the player under consideration. Separate reporting indicated Lille’s valuation is around €100m, described as £85m, and that City hope to complete an agreement quickly.
At the same time, Rodri is said to be nearing a £65m move to Barcelona. Reports on Wednesday suggested the Spain international may already have made his final City appearance, although neither club was presented as having formally announced the transfer.
A replacement plan takes shape
The apparent sequencing is significant. City are not simply being linked with another midfield addition; Bouaddi has emerged as the prospective response to the departure of a player who has been central to the side’s control in possession and defensive protection.
Rodri’s recent absence adds context, rather than certainty, to the situation. Reports said he had returned to training after an extended post-World Cup break and minor back surgery, and did not feature in City’s match at Cardiff. That does not establish a medical reason for the proposed transfer, but it means the club have been working through a period in which his immediate availability was already limited.
New head coach Enzo Maresca has signalled that early recruitment is preferable, a practical point given the adjustment required for any incoming midfielder. City have already brought Elliot Anderson into the position this summer, according to reports, but the pursuit of Bouaddi would suggest they see room for another significant option rather than a like-for-like replacement being settled internally.
The financial framework is also notable. A £65m sale would not directly determine what City can spend, but it would help offset the reported £85m price attached to Bouaddi. Lille’s stance, if the valuation is accurate, reflects both the player’s age and the leverage of a selling club being approached for an emerging midfielder rather than an established veteran nearing a contract end.
What Bouaddi could represent
Bouaddi’s age makes this a different type of succession decision. Rodri would leave with considerable top-level experience, while Bouaddi would arrive as an 18-year-old expected to develop within a demanding tactical environment. The challenge for City would be to avoid treating a promising acquisition as an instant replica of an established holding midfielder.
That distinction matters under Maresca. A central player in his system must offer more than ball-winning: positioning during build-up, composure when pressed and an understanding of when to protect transitions are all likely to be relevant. Anderson’s arrival potentially gives City another route to rotate responsibilities, while Bouaddi could be developed without every element of Rodri’s role falling on him immediately.
Reports also said City had missed the deadline to sign Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, who had been linked with a £120m move. Whether or not that pursuit was ever close, Bouaddi’s reported fee is lower than that figure but still represents a substantial commitment for a player at the start of his senior career.
The transfer remains subject to completion, and the accounts do not claim an official confirmation from either side. City’s interest in Bouaddi, however, indicates that planning for a Rodri exit is advanced enough for the club to pursue a prominent replacement. The next developments will determine whether this becomes a linked pair of moves or merely parallel negotiations in a fluid window.