Manchester City identify four potential midfield transfer options for January market following Rodri injury blow | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City could turn to one of four identified midfield profiles during the January transfer window following Rodri’s injury blow.

The Etihad Stadium club confirmed on Wednesday morning that the 28-year-old had sustained ligament damage to his right knee, and would require a period away from the club on the treatment table.

Whilst a statement did explain that the player is yet to ascertain the full extent of the problem, the belief in various quarters is that Rodri could be ruled out for the remainder of the 2024/25 season as a result of the problem sustained in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal.

Manchester City said this week on their official club website, “Manchester City FC can confirm that Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee. The injury was sustained during the first half of this weekend’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the Premier League.”

The statement continued, “The midfielder travelled to Spain to seek specialist consultation this week, following initial tests in Manchester. Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis.”

Whilst tests remain ongoing, reports elsewhere have continued to speculate on the next steps that could be taken by Manchester City to come to terms with the absence of arguably their most integral player.

One such route that has been mooted by various reports is the possibility of the club entering the January transfer window for suitable back-up options, with a list of names now surfacing varying in levels of investment required.

According to the information of TEAMtalk’s Fraser Gillan, whilst there is “no panic” behind the scenes at Manchester City following Rodri’s injury, the club are looking at some options that could help fill the void left by the 28-year-old in January.

Despite City being reluctant to invest vast sums of cash during the winter market, the report points towards a four-man shortlist that they could explore, should either player appear available for the right price.

Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi is among those names, with Manchester City reportedly ‘considering’ the possibility to agreeing to meet the player’s €60 million release clause. Elsewhere, it is claimed that Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella is also on the club’s radar.

Fellow Serie A star and Atalanta midfielder Ederson is a player that the report says to ‘keep an eye on’ in the coming months, while Crystal Palace and England international Adam Wharton completes the shortlist.

Manchester City have been linked with Wharton in particular for several months, with the understanding being that the English champions stood alongside the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in considering the player over the summer.

Some options considered by Manchester City may however look towards the experiences of players who have been tasked with supporting Rodri in recent seasons, including Kalvin Phillips.

The Englishman joined Pep Guardiola’s side from Leeds in the summer of 2022, and despite winning back-to-back Premier League titles, a Champions League, and a historic Treble, he failed to integrate into the Catalan’s plans and now finds himself on loan at Ipswich Town.