Manchester City's new manager, Enzo Maresca, is facing a significant midfield rebuild as the club prepares for the new season. Rodri's future at the club is uncertain, with Barcelona reportedly preparing a third offer for the player, who has one year left on his contract.
Tijjani Reijnders has already departed, joining Al Qadsiah for £51m. These exits mean Maresca may need to forge an entirely new midfield, despite inheriting a strong squad from Pep Guardiola.
Elliot Anderson, a £116m signing, is currently the only midfielder Maresca seems to have guaranteed a central role this season. Maresca acknowledged the period of transition, stating, "We are in a moment when players that were here for many years probably already left and probably they can leave and that means there is a change."
City's potential midfield refit, including targets like Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi, could cost around £300m, though this would be offset by sales. Maresca indicated that City would not be pressured by Chelsea's artificial deadline for Fernandez.