Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Lille's teenage midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, a move that would smooth the path for Rodri to leave the club for Barcelona. The 18-year-old has agreed personal terms with City, though a deal with Lille is still being finalised, with the French club valuing him at around €100m (£85m). New manager Enzo Maresca is reportedly keen to bring the Morocco international straight into his first-team plans as City rebuild a midfield that has already lost the experience of Bernardo Silva this summer.

Barcelona are confident of securing Rodri after having an initial €45m bid rejected last week, and are expected to return with an improved offer this week, potentially funded by the sale of Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain. City appear resigned to losing the 30-year-old, who has a year left on his contract. If completed, Bouaddi would join Elliot Anderson, signed from Nottingham Forest for £116m, in a refreshed midfield, while Manchester United are separately chasing Leicester teenager Louis Page ahead of competition from Arsenal.