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Pep Guardiola has never hidden his love for international windows, and he has continued a habit of using the November break to consider his future by agreeing to a one-year extension on his Manchester City contract.
Certainly, the Catalan hasn’t been put off by a punishing period leading into the break for the coach and his City side, as for the first time in his 17-year coaching career, Guardiola slumped to four successive defeats in all competitions. City lost at Tottenham to exit the Carabao Cup, suffered a first defeat in the Champions League for more than two years when they were beaten by Sporting CP and fell five points behind Liverpool in the Premier League by losing at Bournemouth and then Brighton.
The two-week hiatus in club action gave City some much-needed respite and some time for their many injury-stricken players to recover. But it will not solve their biggest issue: the continued absence of Rodri. While John Stones, Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji, Phil Foden, Matheus Nunes, Nathan Ake, Jeremy Doku and Ruben Dias could all make their respective comebacks against Tottenham on Saturday, the Ballon d’Or-winning Spaniard still faces a long way back from the knee injury he suffered against Arsenal in September, and is not due to return to action until June.
City have a win rate of 74 percent with Rodri in the team, which falls to 67 percent when he is not. If that does not seem like a huge drop-off, consider this: Guardiola’s side were unbeaten in each of the 34 Premier League games the midfielder played last season. Of the four games Rodri missed, City lost three. Between losing to Brentford in November 2022 and the FA Cup final to Manchester United in May 2024, the team were never beaten with Rodri in the line-up.
“There is no-one in the City squad like him, so in the short-term he is irreplaceable,” wrote Jamie Carragher in The Telegraph earlier this month. “The blow can be likened to when Liverpool were denied Virgil van Dijk when defending the title in 2021. It is my belief Jurgen Klopp would have won his second Premier League crown had Van Dijk been fit. There are some players who are so fundamental to a side’s chances of success, the team is unrecognisable without them. Rodri is such a player.”
There is one way for City to replace Rodri, though, and that is to go out and buy a top-class midfielder in the January transfer window. City are definitely not short of money after making a profit of €116m (£97m/$122m) in the transfer market last summer, not to mention a club-record €826m (£690m/$873m) in revenue last year. The club might have been reluctant to use the January window in the past, but doing so now could be the difference between winning a fifth-successive Premier League title and surrendering their crown, as well as having a huge impact in their bid to win the Champions League.
GOAL takes a look at the club’s best options as the transfer window approaches…
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GettyMartin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Zubimendi is the most obvious replacement for Rodri as he filled in for him in the second half of the Euro 2024 final against England and has continued to perform admirably in the City lynchpin’s absence, including scoring the only goal against Denmark last month.
The 25-year-old was on the verge of joining Liverpool when the Merseysiders activated his £51m ($64m) release clause in the summer, only for Zubimendi to opt to stay with boyhood club Real Sociedad. City have reportedly been watching Zubimendi closely since, and although the player said last month he wanted to “stay and grow” with La Real, his resolve could be tested with another seductive offer from the Premier League and the chance to work with Guardiola.
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Getty Images SportJoshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
“When I speak about Joshua Kimmich, I only say good things,” said Guardiola in 2016. “He has absolutely everything and can achieve whatever he wants. He wants to learn and has passion. I love this kid.”
The Catalan brought Kimmich to Bayern Munich from RB Leipzig when he was just 20 and used him across the pitch, at right-back, in midfield and even at centre-back. He only got to coach him for one year, but there is a good chance the pair could be reunited.
Kimmich is the latest Bayern player to run down his contract, and in January he will be free to speak to other clubs about joining them for free in the summer. City could bring a potential move forward by six months by offering Bayern a reduced transfer fee, and it would be more than worth it if Kimmich can help them reverse their current slide.
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Getty Images SportEderson (Atalanta)
No, we’re not suggesting that the City goalkeeper moves into midfield, as gifted as he is with his feet! His compatriot and namesake has quietly turned into one of the most consistent midfield operators in Serie A since moving from Salernitana to Atalanta in 2022. He played a crucial role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph, taming Florian Wirtz in the final.
The Brazilian is renowned for his physical strength, aerial prowess, tackling and anticipation. as well as his passing range and, like Rodri, chips in with goals, scoring six times in the league last season. He is valued at around £35m ($44m) and would represent a good long-term move as he is only 25.
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AFPMorten Hjulmand (Sporting CP)
City fans from England will know all about Denmark international Morten Hjulmand’s ball-striking ability after his missile against the Three Lions during Euro 2024, but his qualities as a holding midfielder are more relevant. The 25-year-old has taken the long road to the top, starting out at little-known Austrian side Admira Wacker and then helping Lecce win promotion back to Serie A. He is one of many players to have thrived at Sporting CP under Ruben Amorim, seamlessly replacing Manuel Ugarte as the coach’s top defensive midfielder, a year after he had to part ways with Joao Palhinha.
Hjulmand, who has an €80m ($66m/$84m) release clause, has been described as “a more cerebral destroyer” than the Uruguayan and the Portuguese, contributing more in attack than his predecessors and making fewer risky tackles due to his anticipation skills.
“He reminds us of the defensive midfielders of the past, who controlled the entire game, who led the teams,” said Denmark coach Brian Riemer. “His character, his leadership, his personality his communication are not very common in today’s football.”
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Getty Images SportFrenkie de Jong (Barcelona)
Frenkie de Jong was a long-term target for City’s rivals Manchester United, who agreed a deal with Barcelona in 2022 only to be met with rejection from the player himself due to him being settled in Catalunya and saw his long-term future with the Blaugrana. Things have changed lately though, with De Jong losing his place in the Barca starting line-up this season to the homegrown Marc Casado. He has made just one La Liga start and three substitute appearances this season, and his price tag will have dropped by January, when he will have 18 months left on his contract.
The 27-year-old would be a risk as he has had terrible misfortune with injuries, suffering three ankle problems within the last year. And he has just returned to Barca from the Netherlands squad a day earlier for medical reasons. But if City can be assured that he has fully recovered, De Jong would be an exciting option.
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Getty Images SportSamuele Ricci (Torino)
Italy international Samuele Ricci is adept at playing in tiny spaces, evading pressure and breaking defensive lines, which would make him well suited to City. He does not have the strength of Rodri, although he makes up for it with his anticipatory skills, winning the ball back mostly through interceptions. He is also a long-term prospect at the age of 23 and a low-cost option, valued at around £25m ($31m).
The Torino midfielder has confessed to studying videos of Rodri in order to improve, and he has been made aware that he has been linked with City as well as AC Milan.
“It is very pleasing of course, but I have learned to understand football a bit now. When things go well, you are linked with these big clubs and it is gratifying because it means you are on the right track,” Ricci told RAI Sport. “When things go well, you are linked with these big clubs and it is gratifying because it means you are on the right track.”
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