Man City star being monitored by La Liga giants

Manchester City will be hoping to take a huge step towards a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League when they face German side RB Leipzig on Wednesday. 

The Citizens beat Arsenal 3-1 last week to move top of the Premier League table, but they will go into the last 16 first leg tie in Germany off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

It remains to be seen whether or not manager Pep Guardiola will rotate his squad for the trip to Germany, but in the meantime one of City’s most important stars is being watched by a European giant.

As per Football Insider, La Liga side Barcelona are monitoring City midfielder Rodri.

The Spaniard is being lined up as a potential replacement for veteran Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets, who looks set to leave the club this summer.

It is claimed that the Spanish side are already laying the groundworks for a deal, and would be willing to pay as much as £80 million for the 26-year-old.

Rodri is wanted by Spanish giants Barcelona

Rodri joined City from fellow La Liga side Atletico Madrid in 2019 and has since established himself as one of the best holding midfielders in Europe.

The Spain international has already made more than 180 appearances for The Citizens, winning five trophies including two Premier League titles.

City could face losing a number of midfielders this summer, with Ilkay Gundogan’s contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The German is said to be attracting interest from clubs in Europe and is therefore likely to leave, while Bernardo Silva has asked to leave The Etihad in each of the last two summer transfer windows, and could do so once again.

City’s only other senior central midfielders are Kevin De Bruyne and Kalvin Phillips, while the latter has also been linked with a move away from the club having played fewer than 25 minutes of top flight football so far this season.

It is claimed that City fear Rodri could be tempted by a move back to his native Spain, although they have no plans to let the midfielder leave.