In the past, Manchester City rarely recruited new players in the winter transfer window, thanks to the depth of the squad and the incredible ability of Pep Guardiola to rotate the squad. However, the prospect of being forced to supplement the force this January is gradually becoming clearer, as the storm of injuries continues to leave Man City without a series of pillars.
Martin Zubimendi According to Opta Analyst, if they want to find a replacement for Rodri, Man City can think of Martin Zubimendi - the player who came on to replace the injured Rodri in the EURO 2024 final.
At Real Sociedad, the 25-year-old midfielder is known as the "steel shield" in front of the defense, breaking up almost all of the opponent's attacks.Although he does not often contribute to the attack like his compatriot Rodri, Zubimendi will certainly help Man City play more solidly if he agrees to move to the English team.
However, the case of Zubimendi joining the Etihad Stadium team is unlikely to happen.The Spanish midfielder has repeatedly affirmed his desire to stay with Real Sociedad and flatly rejected Liverpool this summer.
Leon Goretzka
The German international could be Pep Guardiola's first choice to bolster his midfield. While he doesn't have the same technical ability as Rodri, Goretzka stands out for his range of play and impressive ball-winning ability.
In particular, the 29-year-old midfielder has also become a constant threat in front of the opponent's goal thanks to his ability to penetrate the penalty area.According to statistics, Goretzka achieved a successful pass rate of 89.4% and had 6 goals, 7 assists in the Bundesliga last season.This figure is only behind Rodri (8 goals, 9 assists) in the Premier League.
This season, Leon Goretzka has lost his place in the starting lineup of Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany.This could be the reason why signing a contract with Man City in January becomes more feasible.
Frenkie de Jong
Barcelona are once again in financial trouble. As usual, De Jong is always the first name mentioned whenever the Spanish club is thinking of selling a player. The Dutch midfielder was out for most of 2024 due to an ankle injury and only returned to action in October. However, his form and lack of impressive performances are the reasons why De Jong is not an important factor in Hansi Flick's plans.
Opta Analyst assessed that De Jong is clearly not the type of midfielder like Rodri, as the Dutch midfielder's playing style is more about moving forward and developing the ball. However, if placed next to a midfield partner like Rodri, De Jong will be able to play the ball in his best style like in his peak at Ajax. Therefore, De Jong could be an option that Man City considers for their long-term plan.
Pascal Gross
If Man City are looking for a short-term replacement, Pascal Gross could be a good option. The German midfielder can play as a deep-lying midfielder, playmaker and full-back. Gross' versatility could help Man City if they need to rotate players.
Opta Analyst rates the 34-year-old player as having physical endurance and the ability to handle the ball well under pressure. In addition, Pascal Gross used to play for Brighton, so he can adapt quickly to the Premier League environment.
Exequiel Palacios
After a successful season at Bayer Leverkusen, Palacios is likely to find a new destination when he cannot compete for a place in the first team. Opta Analyst describes the Argentine midfielder as having a bold and confident style of play, with only 348 minutes to make 4 assists. On average, after every 87 minutes of play, Palacios has an assist - the best performance in the top 5 European leagues (only considering players who have played at least 200 minutes).
Exequiel Palacios is highly regarded for his tackling and breaking up attacks. According to statistics, the 26-year-old midfielder averages 4.1 tackles per 90 minutes - ranking 5th in the Champions League this season.
