A move for the Spain international to Barcelona appears increasingly likely this summer, with Rodri, 30, having settled on Barcelona and having just a year left on his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City look set to move for 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi as a long-term option in midfield, but may also need a more immediate successor.
According to Sky journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, City's dream replacement is Chelsea's Enzo Fernández, 25, with head coach Enzo Maresca said to have specifically identified the Argentine as his top target after working closely with him during his time at Stamford Bridge.
Fernández is under contract with Chelsea until the summer of 2032, but has been the subject of exit talk before, with reports linking him with Real Madrid this summer; the Spanish club have since said they will not move for Fernández this year.
Manchester City have shown interest in the midfielder at earlier points in the summer, though it remains to be seen whether a concrete offer will follow. According to The Athletic, Chelsea are demanding a fee of £120m to sell one of their key players, equivalent to more than €140m.
Fernández made 36 Premier League appearances last season, 35 of them starts, scoring ten goals and providing four assists, with a further three goals and two assists in the Champions League.
Chelsea suspended the midfielder last season over comments that were seen as hinting at a desire to leave the club, and his agent has since acknowledged the club are exploring possibilities for a departure, though nothing is understood to be concrete.
Chelsea, who value Fernández highly as a key figure in Xabi Alonso's squad, are expected to resist any approach from a direct Premier League rival.