Manchester City have made contact over a surprise deal to sign Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister as a replacement for Rodri, according to reports.

The Cityzens have had a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far, breaking their club-record to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, while also bringing in teenager Jeremy Monga and young goalkeeper Pierce Charles for new manager Enzo Maresca.

But the club are facing a battle to hold on to their star midfielder after he won the World Cup, and plans are underway for City to find a replacement ahead of the new season beginning.

Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

According to journalist Matt Thielen, Man City have made contact with Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister’s camp over a potential move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.
City have accumulated a shortlist of options to replace the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner after it emerged that he is keen to return to Spain, amid strong interest from Barcelona. Mac Allister is one of the players on that list, although it is unclear if he would be open to the move or if Liverpool would be open to selling the Argentina international.

Rodri Says Yes to Barcelona in Huge Transfer Twist

Mac Allister has been a regular for Liverpool since signing from Brighton in 2023, winning the Premier League and EFL Cup in his three seasons at Anfield. He has made 150 appearances, scoring 19 goals in that time, and earned the praise of some top stars.
One such star was Paul Scholes, who listed him as the fourth-best midfielder in world football last year, behind only Vitinha, Rodri and Pedri.

“Mac Allister, again, I thought he was brilliant last year for Liverpool. I saw him close up in the game at Old Trafford, as I mentioned before, he was brilliant, controlled everything. I don’t think he’s had a great start to this season.
“So I’ll have Mac Allister at number four.”

🚨 EXCL: Manchester City have made contact with Alexis Mac Allister’s camp to explore a potential move for the Liverpool midfielder.
Mac Allister is on City’s shortlist of potential reinforcements should Rodri leave the club. pic.twitter.com/koJlWrgMJI
— Matt Thielen (@MattThielen) August 6, 2026

Rodri World Cup 2026 Stats
Appearances	8
Minutes	726
Key Passes (per 90)	1.4
Average Passes (per 90)	101.4
Pass Success %	93.2
Long Balls (per 90)	4.6

Man City Reject Barcelona Bid as Rodri Agrees to Move

GIVEMESPORT sources understand that Man City have already rejected an opening bid from Barcelona for Rodri.
The Catalan giants tabled an offer worth an initial €45m (£38.5m), but City have rejected it out of hand as they are looking for around €75m (£64.2m) to let the 30-year-old leave, despite him being in the final year of his contract.
Rodri has already agreed terms with Hansi Flick’s side over a move, having picked them over rivals Real Madrid, who have now exited the race for his signature. Barcelona are now planning to make a fresh offer, and remain confident of finding an agreement with City in the coming weeks.
The Spain international was key to the World Cup win this summer, but is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery for a back issue following the tournament.
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored – correct as of 07/08/2026.

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Man City Reject Barcelona Bid for World-Class Star

Man City have rejected an opening bid.

Liverpool could turn their attention to Tyler Adams once Bradley Barcola’s big-money move from Paris Saint-Germain is completed.

Barcola is headed to Anfield after the Reds agreed on an £110 million deal with PSG for the French winger. He is an exciting acquisition who fits the marquee attacker that the higher-ups were eager to sign following Mohamed Salah’s departure.

Business is starting to pick up for Andoni Iraola and his Merseyside outfit and Barcola was well worth the wait. While there is talk of a potential move for his PSG teammate Ibrahim Mbaye, the transfer chiefs appear keen to add a new midfielder to the squad.

Liverpool Eyeing Tyler Adams

A move for Adams could be on the cards and Liverpool are said to admire the Bournemouth midfielder. According to Dylan McBennett of Attacking Football, they are interested in the American and have used data to assess his profile and whether he’d be a good fit.

Their data team might not need to do too much analysis as Iraola knows the player from his time in charge at the Vitality. The Spaniard is a massive fan and explained what the 27-year-old could bring if he were to follow his former manager to Anfield.

Iraola said just last season:

Stats courtesy of StatMuse – correct as of 07/08/2026

Liverpool aren’t the only Premier League club showing interest in Adams, as Manchester United are also believed to be eyeing the former Leeds United man. GIVEMESPORT’s senior football correspondent, Ben Jacobs, previously revealed that the Cherries are likely to ask for around £50 million to sell the versatile midfielder.

Adams’ Connection With Iraola Could Be Key

It’s become somewhat of the norm for a newly-appointed manager to bring one or two of his former players with him. While many would suggest Alex Scott as the superior option to strengthen his Liverpool midfield, Adams had been a workhorse while playing under the Spaniard.

Adams has the experience required to come in and help the Reds try to compete for major trophies again and strength in depth will be crucial. He can play in central and defensive midfield and can even put in a shift at right-back.

Liverpool transfer targets:

Iraola will want to implement his brand of football and having someone like Adams who knows exactly what he wants from his team could be hugely beneficial. Given how much the club are spending on Barcola, if they are to make a move for a midfielder, this could be the most reasonably priced deal.

A Chelsea and England defender has thrown her weight behind a potential UEFA boycott of FIFA competitions, insisting that drastic action is necessary to protect the long-term integrity of the sport.

The message is that standing by collective principles matters more than immediate participation in major international tournaments, even with a host of high-profile fixtures on the horizon.

The situation has grown increasingly tense as European member associations weigh up a total boycott of FIFA-sanctioned events. The stance originated after FIFA president Gianni Infantino proposed selling stakes in various competitions, such as the World Cup, to private investors, a move that met fierce resistance from UEFA’s 55 member nations before it was later scrapped.

Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze Backs UEFA Boycott Stance

REUTERS/Matthew Childs

The player in question is Lucy Bronze, who was speaking during Chelsea’s pre-season tour of New Zealand. She made clear that players are prepared to follow through with the protest if it serves the wider good of the game.

“I think the players who play in those competitions, the European players, we stand by our beliefs and what the right thing is for our game,” she said.

The immediate fallout would be felt most acutely in the women’s game, with the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup due to begin on the 5th of September. That tournament features a strong European contingent including England, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and hosts Poland.

Chief Football Writer at The Times, Henry Winter, added further context on X, revealing England are continuing preparations to attend the tournament in Poland but that it remains a fast-moving situation with the FA’s stance unchanged in its support of UEFA.

REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake

Bronze framed her support for the boycott as being about more than short-term politics, insisting it is about protecting the sport’s legacy for generations to come.

“It’s for the future of the game and not just for me today and tomorrow. It’s for all the little girls or little boys who come after us to make sure that they’re in a good place when the game’s moving forward in decades to come, not just tomorrow.”

Her comments come despite FIFA U-turning on its private investment plans, with Infantino issuing an apology for his “errors.” UEFA nonetheless confirmed on Thursday that the boycott remains on the table.