Five transfer targets that could launch Man City’s rebuild | OneFootball

Manchester City are facing an imminent rebuild with the champions cut adrift in this season’s Premier League title race.

A faltering festive period has left the Citizens sixth in the Premier League table, 12 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

Pep Guardiola has suggested his side could be active in the January transfer window, with additions in defence and central midfield the focus. The latter has been an issue this season in the absence of Rodri, as City have looked aged and vulnerable in the engine room.

Given 11 of the current squad are aged 29 or under, fresh faces are expected to arrive in the upcoming windows to revive the side.

We’ve looked at five potential transfer targets who could help launch Manchester City’s rebuild.

Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)

Rodri’s season-ending injury has left an unmissable hole in the Manchester City midfield. Though the absence of one player should not correlate to complete collapse, it’s almost impossible to fill the role of the Ballon d’Or winner. Martin Zubimendi might just be City’s best bet at doing so. A teammate of Rodri’s with the Spanish national team, the 25-year-old has forged a reputation as one of La Liga’s best midfielders at Real Sociedad.

Technically secure at the base of the midfield and surprisingly combative in the air, Zubimendi has a long list of suitors and a release clause of €60m in his contract. Having snubbed a move to Liverpool in the summer, he could be ready to take the next step after an up-and-down season for Sociedad.

Ederson (Atalanta)

Atalanta midfielder Ederson has been linked with joining his Manchester City namesake at the Etihad.

The Brazilian’s tenacious performances for the Italian side have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United among the clubs to have checked in on the 25-year-old. He helped Atalanta to Europa League success last season and thrived as one of Serie A’s most well-rounded midfielders.

In 2023/24, he ranked among the division’s leading players for tackles won (3rd), progressive passes (5th) and passes into the final third (5th).

A cornerstone in their Scudetto challenge during the current campaign, Atalanta will not entertain offers under €50m.

Abdukodir Khusanov (Lens)

A deal that could be done in January, Lens have offered Manchester City the chance to sign Abdukodir Khusanov this month. The French side are touting one of Ligue 1’s hottest prospects to top sides in a bid to raise much needed funds.

City are now advancing in talks to sign the 20-year-old for a fee in excess of £30m as Pep Guardiola’s team look to beat competition from Real Madrid and Newcastle. The Uzbekistan international has thrived under the management of Englishman Will Still at Lens, helping the side to the second-best defensive record in Ligue 1. His reading of the game has caught the eye of Europe’s elite with no centre-back in Europe’s top five leagues averaging more interceptions per 90 minutes across the last 12 months.

Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt)

City’s failure to sign a replacement for Julian Alvarez last summer was a mistake. The over-reliance on Erling Haaland has been apparent, with Phil Foden and Jack Grealish among those who have not hit the heights of previous seasons.

Pep Guardiola’s side have been heavily linked with a move to sign Omar Marmoush this month. The Egyptian has been one of the success stories of the Bundesliga campaign, where he has scored 13 goals and laid on seven assists in 15 games for Eintracht Frankfurt. Only compatriot Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in more goals across Europe’s top five leagues. The 25-year-old would certainly provide some additional cutting edge to the Citizens.

Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

Could Guardiola be tempted to reunite with a former favourite? The Spaniard was responsible for signing and bedding-in Joshua Kimmich at Bayern Munich, where the midfielder has excelled for almost a decade. Now 29, Kimmich is out of contract in the summer and free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with foreign sides.

Kimmich is arguably world-class in two problem positions for Manchester City, having switched between right-back and central midfield for Bayern. Given his status as a proven winner and free agent, it’s a deal that makes sense.

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