Manchester City were seriously weighing up a move for Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong last summer. According to Catalunya Radio, the City hierarchy viewed the Dutch international as the ideal direct replacement for Rodri after the Spaniard's departure to the Catalan giants.
The English club even entered into official discussions with the bosses of the Blaugrana, who were open to meaningful dialogue. However, the deal unravelled quickly during the detailed medical examinations: City pulled the plug after receiving concerning assessments regarding de Jong's knee, following an injury sustained at the 2026 World Cup.
After the setback with de Jong, Manchester City drastically restructured their midfield, securing notable transfers for Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez, and Ayoub Bouaddi.
As for Frenkie de Jong, he is currently entering the final stages of his recovery, having missed a significant amount of time since the conclusion of the World Cup.
