Manchester City are pushing ahead with a £62.5million bid for Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri.
Spain international Rodri has told Atletico he wants to leave this summer, with Premier League champions City his preferred destination, according to sources in Spain.
Pep Guardiola views Rodri as the natural successor to Fernandinho in the midfield anchor role, with City willing to pay the 22-year-old's £62.5m release clause.
Bayern Munich and Barcelona are also interested in Rodri, but it is understood the player wants to play in the Premier League and specifically under Guardiola at City.
Atletico have offered Rodri an improved new deal in a last-ditch bid to keep him, but the player is said to have told club president Angel Gil Marin of his intention to move on.
That has left the way clear for City to make him their first signing of the summer and add to the squad that made it back-to-back titles with last season's successful Premier League defence.
Rodri made 47 appearances for Atletico last season, scoring three goals and providing providing one assist, but his defensive prowess and ability to control midfield is his biggest attribute.
After making 84 appearances for Villarreal, Rodri joined Atletico for a fee of £22m in May 2018 and is now set to move on for nearly three times that figure.
