Barcelona willing to offer €90 million for Manchester City midfield ace

With Sergio Busquets’ contract at Camp Nou expiring at the end of the season, Barcelona are actively looking for a long-term replacement in the market.

The club’s coaching staff is keen on keeping hold of Busquets, but the veteran is yet to make a decision on his future. It has accentuated the need for a new defensive midfielder, and it appears the club have no shortage of options in the market.

Barcelona have been heavily linked with a move for Real Sociedad starlet Martin Zubimendi, while Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Ruben Neves is another option for coach Xavi Hernandez.

However, according to Football Insider (h/t Diario SPORT), Barcelona have identified another option in the form of Rodri. The Manchester City superstar fits the bill for Xavi due to his strong physique and the ability to dictate the tempo of the game with his long range of passing.

Barcelona, therefore, are ready to splash the cash on the Spanish international. They are even willing to table a bid of around €90 million for the midfielder in the coming summer.

Rodri, who has been a part of the Man City setup since 2019 and has featured in almost 200 competitive matches, is an undisputed starter in Pep Guardiola’s plans. He also has a contract at Etihad until 2027, and given Barça’s financial state, fans should take this claim with a pinch of salt.

However, Barça have one cheaper alternative in the form of Ilkay Gundogan, another Manchester City midfield maestro that fits the profile Xavi is looking for. Gundogan also has a contract that expires at the end of the season, meaning Barcelona will be able to sign him on a free transfer in the coming summer.

Barcelona board members had even reportedly met the agent of Gundogan recently, though it was later confirmed that the meeting was about Andreas Christensen.