Manchester City are expected to dive into the January transfer market to look for a replacement for Rodri after the midfielder suffered a ligament injury last weekend.
The Spaniard stumbled while dealing with a corner against Arsenal, injuring his knees and getting replaced in the 21st minute by Mateo Kovacic.
The 28-year-old was seen walking freely without crutches after the game, and the fans were optimistic that he would return soon. However, early scans reveal that he has suffered a ligament injury in his right knee and that he might be out until the end of the season.
OFFICIAL: Rodri has suffered a ligament injury to his right knee, @ManCity confirm.
Statement: “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…
— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) September 25, 2024
Man City have operated without the defensive midfielder during the initial period of the season as they preferred to rest their star player. His colossal performances for club and country further made him a crucial figure at the Etihad.
It will be really hard for the club to find a player who can fill Rodri’s shoes. Although they have used Kovacic effectively in that role, the reigning Premier League champions can now explore the January market for a like-to-like replacement.
As revealed by journalist Graeme Bailey writing for HITC, Manchester City management will have a meeting with Pep Guardiola to discuss the future course of action. They will plan whether or not the team needs a midfielder to fill the slot left temporarily by their prized asset.
The former Atletico Madrid star is a cornerstone of the current Blues lineup. The club lost just 11% of the games with him in the starting XI compared to 24% without him.
They recently jumped in to sign IIkay Gundogan for free but will now need to hunt for another midfielder in the upcoming months. Guardiola has possible alternatives in midfield like John Stones, Rico Lewis, Kovacic, and Gundogan. We still expect them to sign a CDM if Rodri is ruled out until 2025.
They are not eligible to recall Kalvin Phillips, who is on loan to Ipswitch Town. Manchester City can’t have him back until he finishes his complete spell.
Looking at the possible options in the market: Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka, Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, and Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes were linked with the Citizens in the past.
They can also target Crystal Palace starlet Adam Wharton. The highly-rated young midfielder boasts great numbers in defence and can be a long-term investment for them.
