It isn’t news to anyone that Man City manager Pep Guardiola is reportedly looking for a future replacement for star holding midfielder Fernandinho, and if the bookies are anything to go by this certainly rings true.
The Brazilian played a key part in the Blues' treble winning campaign making 29 appearances but struggled partly with injury and will be 35 when his contract runs out next summer, so Pep will be keen to bring someone in to fill the hole Fernandinho would leave in the side.
And Skybet have made City the favourites to sign two Atletico Madrid players as the midfielder’s heir.
Spanish internationals Rodri, who has been heavily linked, and Saul Niguez have been made 2/5 and 4/7 respectively to sign with the club.
Twenty-two-year-old Rodri has impressed at Madrid since signing a five year contract from Villarreal for around £18m last year, making 47 appearances in all competitions last year so may cost City a substantial amount.
Saul, 24, has been a mainstay in the Atletico side since 2014, having come through their academy and made a total of 40 appearances last year.
The other player the club have been made favourites to sign is Leeds United’s Kalvin Phillips at 5/1. The Leeds-born midfielder has blossomed under the stewardship of Marcelo Bielsa and was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Year and Yorkshire Evening Post Player of the Year.
With Bielsa’s brand of football being very similar to Pep’s, Phillips an ideal target for City if the 23 year old can make the step up to the Premier League.
City are also second favourites to sign Wolves’ Ruben Neves, Chelsea’s Jorginho and West Ham’s Declan Rice - who they’ll need to fight with rivals United to land - at 10/1, 4/1 and 4/1 respectively.
