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Manchester City ready to pay Rodri's Atletico Madrid release clause

Bayern Munich also keen on Rodri, who was signed from Villarreal for £21.5m last summer

Manchester City are ready to trigger Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodri's £62.5m release clause.

Rodri, 22, informed Atletico on Tuesday of his desire to leave the club this summer after City and Bayern Munich indicated they would be willing to meet his buyout clause.

City's director of football Txiki Begiristain made Rodri their primary midfield target for this window as they seek competition, and an eventual replacement, for 34-year-old Fernandinho.

Listen to the latest episode of Transfer Talk: Is Lampard right for Chelsea?

They tried to sign Jorginho from Napoli last summer, but the Italian holding midfielder opted to join Chelsea instead.

Fernandinho (centre) speaks to Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola as he comes off in the Carabao Cup final
Image: Manchester City are looking for an eventual replacement for Fernandinho

Diego Simeone wanted to keep Rodri, who made 34 appearances for the club this season after joining from Villarreal last summer for £21.5m.

Should City pay Rodri's release clause, it would just surpass the club record £60m the club paid Leicester City for winger Riyad Mahrez last summer.

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