Manchester City were willing to spend £87m to sign one of Europe’s best players this summer.
The current transfer window has been a successful one for Pep Guardiola, as the Spanish coach has seen many of his issues addressed over the summer months with the arrival of six new faces, with Tijjani Reijnders continuing to prove he was a top addition.
Outgoings have been Man City’s main focus over recent days, with Manuel Akanji looking like the next member of the Manchester club’s squad to head for the exit door, as the Swiss star is set to follow the likes of Jack Grealish, James McAtee, and Claudio Echeverri.
One player that looks like he is staying is Savinho, but if the Brazilian left, Man City are willing to spend €100m (£87m) on his replacement.
Rodrygo warms up ahead of Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid.
Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Man City are ready to spend big to sign Real Madrid’s Rodrygo
There was a feeling that Man City could sign Rodrygo towards the end of the transfer window, as that is when the Premier League club would get the best deal for the winger, with the Brazilian clearly not part of Xabi Alonso’s plans, having played zero minutes against Osasuna on Tuesday night.
However, City will not move for the 24-year-old unless Savinho leaves, and that looks very unlikely at this late stage in the transfer window, with Man City blocking the winger’s exit.
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According to Sky Sport France, if Rodrygo is to leave Real Madrid, the Premier League is the winger’s priority, despite approaches from Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The report states that no club has yet made a concrete offer to Florentino Perez for the Brazilian, but Man City remain his most likely destination.
Before taking their current stance on Savinho, Manchester City were ready to make an offer of around €100m (£87m) for Rodrygo, as the La Liga star was Guardiola’s top target to replace the former Girona winger.
Arsenal’s Gabriel believes Rodrygo is a phenomenon
Man City fans know the quality of player they may have missed out on, as Rodrygo has punished the Manchester club in the past.
The Brazilian would have been a brilliant and exciting addition to Guardiola’s squad, with Arsenal’s Gabriel labelling his international teammate as a “phenomenon”.
When asked by the Podpah podcast if he knew anything about Arsenal’s interest in the winger, Gabriel responded: “I don’t. No, I don’t, not really.
“But I’d like obviously. Rodrygo is a phenomenon, for me. He’s not at Arsenal. If it depended on me, I’ve told people already, he’s a phenomenon. His name is mentioned a lot. If it was up to me, of course.”
It remains to be seen if there will be any twist in the Savinho saga, and if that happens, a move to the Etihad Stadium for Rodrygo could still be in play.