Manchester City and Arsenal set for transfer battle over €100 million Real Madrid star | OneFootball

One of Real Madrid’s star forwards is at the centre of a transfer battle in the Premier League involving Manchester City, according to reports in Spain.

The La Liga giants will no doubt be looking to revive their own playing squad and staff within the first-team circle this summer having failed to go as far as the club would usually expect within the UEFA Champions League in particular.

A heavy quarter-final defeat at the hands of Arsenal saw Real Madrid exit the competition despite having already knocked out Manchester City and Atletico Madrid en route to the last-eight of the tournament.

New signings and big-name exits from the Santiago Bernabeu are expected as they look to reclaim their spot at the top of Spanish and European football, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso also eyed to become their new coach in an ideal world for the Madrid side.

As for Pep Guardiola and his Manchester City side, they themselves are leading up to a summer transfer window that will likely see a number of major changes within their playing squad, most notably in the centre of the park where Kevin De Bruyne is set for an exit.

And as both sides work towards a busy off-season, it seems as though their respective squad planning could benefit one another, providing one player is of the same mindset when it comes to his own future and clubs can reach an agreement amid a top-level valuation.

According to the information of Relevo’s Rodra P, Real Madrid and Brazil’s Rodrygo is due to hold a conversation with the expected future Santiago Bernabeu head coach Xabi Alonso to understand his role in his next squad before a decision on his future will be made.

From the side of the La Liga club, it is claimed that Los Blancos are considering a sale, with Manchester City having ‘always been interested’ and Arsenal said to have ‘already inquired about him in recent days’.

The Spanish giants are said to be valuing the 24-year-old at €100 million, although there is no indication as to whether either of the aforementioned Premier League clubs would be willing to strike such a price tag in the coming months.

Rodrygo has previously spoken very highly of both Pep Guardiola and Manchester City in the lead up to some of the memorable meetings between the two sides in European competition, although it remains to be seen whether Etihad Stadium interest will be reignited this summer.

Addressing the media prior to Real Madrid and Manchester City’s last-16 play-off clash in the Champions League earlier this season, the versatile winger said of Pep Guardiola, “He’s one of the greatest managers ever… In my view, playing against his teams is always very hard.”

“I think no one likes to play against Manchester City, just like I think no one likes to play against us,” the Brazilian continued. “We know it’s always difficult to play against Manchester City at their stadium.”

Hugo Viana is expected to lead on transfer plans alongside Txiki Begiristain for Manchester City this summer, and it is yet to be clarified whether the wide attacking roles are an area of the squad that are deemed necessary for investment.