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(Credit: Joaquin Corchero/Imago)

Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

Sun 17 August 2025 11:40, UK

Manchester City are unlikely to sign both Xavi Simons and Rodrygo this summer given their respective price tags, sources today have told Football Insider.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what his sources have said about Man City‘s pursuit of the two in-demand forwards.

Pep Guardiola’s culling of Man City’s squad has continued with James McAtee following Jack Grealish out the door, and this could pave the way for Rodrygo to move to the Etihad Stadium from Real Madrid.

Rodrygo has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, but sources have told Football Insider that Man City could be put off by the £85–100million price tag placed on his head.

Football Insider also revealed on 16 August that Man City are planning a late “hijack” of Chelsea’s move to take Simons to Stamford Bridge, but Enzo Maresca’s side remain favourites in the race to sign him.

Rodrygo has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool (Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Football Insider revealed on 3 August that Liverpool will turn their attention to Rodrygo if they miss out on signing Alexander Isak this summer, providing Man City with further competition for the Brazil winger.

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Speaking on the new Inside Track, O’Rourke stated that Rodrygo’s Real Madrid price tag could hamper City’s efforts to get his move over the line, with Chelsea also well ahead of them in the race for Simons.

“Manchester City are being linked with Rodrygo at Real Madrid as well”, he told Football Insider.

“We know his future is in doubt at the Bernabeu, but again, it would be a very expensive deal to try and do.

“Xavi Simons is another player like Rodrygo on City’s shortlist.

“Simons [is a] top player, has Champions League experience – it’s no surprise that City are looking at him, but Chelsea have probably done the most work on this one so far.”

James McAtee’s exit has opened up space for Man City to sign Rodrygo or Xavi Simons (Credit: Imago)

Grealish, McAtee and Kalvin Phillips headlined the list of Man City players on the chopping block this summer, and with their new season only one day old, Guardiola has ticked two of the names off that list.

McAtee’s £30m move to Nottingham Forest was confirmed on 16 August after Man City opened their campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of Wolves, with new signings like Tijjani Reijnders coming to the fore.

Adding Rodrygo and potentially Simons to Man City’s attacking options is a tantalising prospect, and Guardiola will be confident of signing at least the Brazilian with new spaces in his squad there to be filled.

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