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Manchester City finally ended their long search for Fernandinho’s replacement this week by signing Rodri for a club record fee.

Rodri, 23, moved for £63m from Atletico Madrid and will compete with Fernandinho for the holding midfield role this season, in what is one of Pep Guardiola's most important positions.

Fernandinho, 34, has one year left on his contract at City, and the arrival of Rodri was expected to see the Spaniard become his long-term successor going forward.

But now the Sun claim City will offer Fernandinho a new contract past next summer, with his ability to deputise at centre-back useful to Pep Guardiola.

The report says City are confident the Brazilian can continue playing into his late 30's, and a contract offer will be made to him around Christmas time.

Meanwhile, City are reportedly looking at signing Nathan Ake over Harry Maguire in order to boost their homegrown quota.

City have 18 non-homegrown players after Rodri signed this week, one more than the Premier League allows.

That prompted the interest in Maguire, who came through the ranks at Sheffield United before moving to Hull and then Leicester. But the club are reluctant to pay a world record fee for a defender to get Maguire's services.

But City's home-grown problem remains, hence the emergence of Bournemouth defender Ake as a £40m alternative, according to the Mirror.

Dutchman Ake was at Chelsea's famous academy before permanently switching to the Vitality Stadium last year, so he qualifies as homegrown.