(Credit: Joaquin Corchero/Imago)

Jonathan Burnett

Wed 13 August 2025 16:18, UK

Manchester City want to provide Phil Foden and Erling Haaland with further competition by signing Rodrygo from Real Madrid this summer.

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Pep Guardiola‘s rebuild at the Etihad Stadium continues as he looks to cut down the side of Man City’s squad this summer, after Jack Grealish completed his season-long loan move to Everton on Tuesday.

Grealish‘s departure had been expected ever since Guardiola left the England winger out of City’s squad for the Club World Cup, but also leaves behind both the number 10 shirt and a vacancy on the left flank.

Man City may have brought in Rayan Cherki from Lyon prior to the Club World Cup, but amid interest from Tottenham in Savinho, his Brazilian compatriot Rodrygo has emerged as a top target for Guardiola.

Rodrygo had been a target for Arsenal earlier this summer (Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Grealish’s exit from Man City and Savinho potentially following him out the door could result in Guardiola stepping up his interest in Rodrygo, with fees of roughly £70–100million discussed for the 24-year-old.

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider that Guardiola has been “brutal” in his “culling” of Man City’s squad this summer, with the door open for Rodrygo to complete his move to the Etihad.

Rodrygo remains in Real Madrid‘s plans for the time being and scored the last goal in their pre-season friendly against Austrian side WSG Tyrol, sealing a 4-0 win with potentially his final strike for Los Blancos.

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The Madrid number 11 then sent a captionless post on Instagram – in which he celebrated his goal and also looked to the skies potentially pondering his future – which was liked by his potential future team-mates Foden and Haaland.

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Football Insider Verdict

Savinho‘s move to Tottenham is edging closer with the 21-year-old’s mind made up over a transfer which could be greenlit for a fee of roughly £50m, and that will lay the path for Rodrygo’s move to the Etihad.

A Premier League move has been on the cards throughout this summer for Rodrygo with Liverpool and Arsenal both registering their interest, only for Arsenal to be put off by Real Madrid’s £85m price tag.

Such a fee will be no issue for Man City with Grealish’s wages off the books and Savinho’s gathering pace, and if Rodrygo is bound for the Premier League, it’s Guardiola’s side who now sit at the front of the queue.

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