The chances of Manchester City signing a replacement for Rodri during the January transfer window have increased, according to The Athletic reporter David Ornstein.
The trusted journalist claims that, while nothing has been set in stone yet, the Premier League champions are now more likely to sign a new holding midfielder:
“Let’s see if Man City go into the market in January now for that position (defensive midfield). I’m hearing a lot in the industry that suggests they may well [do].”
Rodri is unlikely to play in the league again this season, having sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Arsenal back in September.
The defeat to Spurs has increased calls for reinforcements
Rodri showed off his Ballon d’Or trophy ahead of kickoff against Tottenham at the weekend but the Spaniard’s absence was keenly felt as Pep Guardiola‘s side suffered a 4-0 home defeat.
It was the Cityzens’ fifth loss in a row in all competitions and fans believe the club must invest in new signings when the transfer window reopens in order to salvage their campaign.
Who could City sign to replace Rodri?
The two players who have been most heavily linked with a switch to the Etihad are Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi and Atalanta’s Ederson.
Zubimendi does have a €60m (£50m) release clause in his contract but there is uncertainty over whether the midfielder would be interested in leaving his current club. He has rejected offers from both Arsenal and Liverpool in the past.
Ederson is likely to cost a similar amount to Zubimendi and he has previously expressed interest in playing in the Premier League. Manchester United are expected to be City’s main rivals for the Brazilian, although the likes of Newcastle and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest in the player.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here
