According to a report from CaughtOffside, Manchester City are now front-runners to sign Rodrygo Goes. While Liverpool were linked with him throughout the summer, they didn’t come forward with an offer. The Reds do retain interest in the Brazilian, but Pep Guardiola’s team are believed to be in pole position to sign him.

Rodrygo’s future was a massive talking point throughout the summer. The Brazilian international was a guaranteed starter under Carlo Ancelotti, but the arrival of Xabi Alonso has seen him go down the pecking order.

He wasn’t willing to accept a rotational role and was reportedly keen on making a move away. Los Blancos were also ready to negotiate his departure as long as their demands were met. His agents did explore the market, but things didn’t go according to plan.

Eventually, the 24-year-old decided to continue at the Spanish club. However, his future remains up in the air, and a lot will depend on what kind of role he has under Alonso going forward. If he doesn’t get regular game time, Rodrygo’s departure in the winter window will become inevitable.

During the summer, his agents offered his services to Liverpool. While the Merseyside club do admire him, they showed little interest in pursuing a deal, as they had their eyes focused on snatching Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

City are in the driving seat to sign Rodrygo

While Arne Slot’s team retain interest in Rodrygo, they are unlikely to make another major investment in the winter. Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City seem to have overtaken the Reds in the pursuit of the Brazilian’s signature.

The Spanish manager is a long-term admirer of the Real Madrid star and considers him an ideal fit for his system. Rodrygo’s versatility could make him a key component of the team. City are likely to explore a deal in January, as Madrid’s revised valuation of around €80 million is seen as a more realistic figure.

A potential deal will depend on City’s overall squad planning. They were keen on signing Rodrygo in the summer but didn’t go ahead with it after Savinho’s anticipated move to Tottenham collapsed. An attacking departure could play a major role in determining Rodrygo’s potential arrival.