EPL Transfer News: Atletico Madrid give major hint on departure of Man City target while presenting Marcos Llorente

What’s the story?

Spanish giants, Atletico Madrid dropped a major transfer hint while unveiling their new recruit Marcos Llorente. The former Real Madrid player has been handed the jersey number 14, the same number which was donned by Rodri Hernandez in season 2018-19. Now it is pretty much evident that the Spaniard looks set to move to Manchester City.

In case you didn’t know…

Jersey number 14, which was also donned by Diego Simeone as a player, was close to Rodri as he upon his arrival at the club had said:

"It is a very important number for this club, the values of Simeone as coach and now manager - courage, battling qualities."

The heart of the matter

Atletico Madrid completed the signing of Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid C.F for a reported fee of 40 million euros earlier this week and has been given the jersey number 14 previously worn by Rodri.

Rodri has been on Manchester City's radar for a while now as they looked to secure a player who could challenge Fernandinho for a spot in the starting eleven and eventually succeed him.

The Cityzens faced stiff competition from Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich but it looks like the player himself wants to work with Pep Guardiola. City vied Llorente and Lyon's Tanguy Ndombele if they failed to secure Rodri but with the former moving to Roji Blancos and the Frenchman looking set to make a switch to Tottenham, all looks settled from City's point of view.

Rodri is set to cost City £62.5 million which is his release clause, and that would make him the club's record signing above last year's recruit, Riyad Mahrez.

What's next?

After losing out on Jorginho last year, Pep Guardiola may have got himself a player who could fill in the shoes of Fernandinho.