Man City keen on Tonali as Rodri shows no signs of extending contract

On June 23, The Athletic released the third edition of its "Transfer Deal Briefing" for the 2026 summer transfer window, discussing Man City's transfer plans.

What happened this week?

Man City remain interested in Tonali. In addition to the Italian midfielder, they are also pursuing Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, while Tottenham have begun negotiations with Newcastle over Tonali's transfer.

This raises questions about Rodri's future, as the midfielder has one year remaining on his contract. However, Man City have made progress on other fronts, with Gvardiol agreeing to a five-year deal and Doku's renewal nearing completion.

Is Tonali a good fit for Man City?

Tonali is a dynamic, well-rounded midfielder who could offer Man City a great deal, particularly following Bernardo Silva's departure and amid Maresca's plans to reshape the team.

Guardiola previously relied on the intelligence and experience of Bernardo Silva and Rodri, while Maresca may opt for a more dynamic approach, similar to the Caicedo-Enzo pairing he used at Chelsea.

From this angle, signing Tonali makes sense, but from Guardiola's perspective, if Rodri departs, a more traditional defensive midfielder might be preferable.

That said, Man City are entering a new era, and a combination of Tonali and Elliot Anderson could prove effective in new ways.

Which positions and players are they targeting?

Man City are assessing right-backs, defensive midfielders, and wingers, with recruitment potentially expanding to other positions depending on departures. For instance, should they lose a goalkeeper, they will consider signing a replacement.

Which players could leave?

The futures of several players remain uncertain. Aké is expected to depart, Kovačić may also leave, and Rúben Dias has attracted interest from Real Madrid, though any move would likely depend on Real Madrid's defensive needs.

Trafford has attracted interest from several clubs, while Nico González has failed to establish himself as a consistent starter over the past 18 months and could depart. Reijnders faces a similar situation.

Sávio is a target for Tottenham, while Phillips and Grealish are seeking new clubs either on loan or in permanent transfers.

Rodri has one year remaining on his Man City contract, with no indication that renewal talks are underway. Should he decline to extend, uncertainty remains over whether he will leave this summer or depart on a free transfer next year.

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