Real Madrid expected to make offer for Rodri

Real Madrid are expected to make an offer for Manchester City midfielder Rodri.

Real are believed to have made initial contact with City over signing Spain's World Cup-winning captain, Sky Sports News understands.

The Spanish giants are believed to be willing to pay in the region of £43m-£51m (€50m-€60m), given he has one year left on his contract.

City do not want to sell Rodri, however, and are hoping instead to agree a new long-term contract with their talismanic midfielder.

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Rodri had successful back surgery on Monday and is currently recovering. He is expected to miss the Community Shield and the opening Premier League fixture of the season as a result.

City want him to lead the team into the new Enzo Maresca era - but Real are now ready to make their move. Upon his re-election as Real president, Florentino Perez was criticised for the club having a lack of representation in the Spain national team.

They have already signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea this summer, and everyone at Real is thought to be on board with a move for Rodri next.

City are believed to progressing with a deal for Lille and Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

How much of a loss would Rodri be to Man City?

Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:

Massive. Despite his age, and recent injury record, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have operated in the Premier League over the past five years. "The best midfielder in the world by far," maintains Pep Guardiola.

Under Guardiola, City's in-play strategy revolved entirely around him, always impressing with his use of the ball and ability to receive in tight situations. He set the tempo for his team and controlled games as a result, doing the same for triumphant Spain this summer.

There is no current player who can condition a game like Rodri, and it is no coincidence City failed to retain their Premier League crown in the two seasons he was injury-plagued.

So, how is he replaced?

In short, he isn't.

But in Anderson City have got a surrogate of sorts. The England international might not yet be the dictator Rodri is but he can evolve to become something close. As a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old is putting up numbers that at least mean he is comparable.