Manchester City are expected to shop for a defensive-midfielder this summer as Fernandinho is out of contract in June and will be on his way out of the club after nine years. One player on their radar was Declan Rice, but West Ham United have long made it clear they wouldn’t sell him for less than £150m.
Now Mark Ogden of ESPN says City will turn their attentions elsewhere, leaving Manchester United clear to sign him. Rodri has been a regular in the holding rope since joining on a five-year deal from Atletico Madrid in 2019, keeping Fernandinho out on merit, so the Sky Blues only need a deputy.
Rice would be a brilliant acquisition as he’s averaged a tackle (70) or interception (55) every 19 minutes in the Premier League this season, making 47 successful dribbles, winning 37 aerial duels, creating 24 chances, blocking 19 shots and completing 91.5% of his passes.
The England international has been outstanding for West Ham, but he’s too expensive for City to sign when they already have Rodri. The Premier League leaders have looked at Yves Bissouma, Ismael Bennacer, Denis Zakaria, Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Douglas Luiz and Mahmoud Dahoud in the past, but it remains to be seen if they’ll return for one of them.
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