Pep Guardiola Evaluates Midfield Depth After Rodri’s Setback

Pep Guardiola faces a significant challenge as Manchester City midfielder Rodri will miss an extended period due to knee ligament damage he sustained in the recent 2-2 draw against Arsenal. While City awaits further tests to determine how long Rodri will be absent, they acknowledge his immense impact. The team has lost only 11% of matches with him on the field compared to 24% without him since his debut in 2019. In the immediate term, City will need to explore internal solutions.

They can consider options such as Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones and Rico Lewis. However, if Rodri’s recovery extends into 2025, Pep Guardiola may need to seek external reinforcements during the January transfer window. Among potential replacements, Leon Goretzka from Bayern Munich stands out as the player most similar to Rodri. Goretzka may not be a traditional defensive midfielder but he shines as a box-to-box player and brings an attacking threat. However, his defensive statistics are not as strong.

Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad also presents a viable option, having impressed when he stepped in for Rodri during Spain’s Euro 2024 final victory.  Despite interest from clubs like Bayern and Barcelona, Real Sociedad persuaded Zubimendi to stay with a reported £51.5 million release clause that City might pursue.  Adam Wharton, the 20-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder, boasts solid defensive statistics and could provide much-needed stability.

Meanwhile, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes has once again caught City’s attention after they linked with him during the summer. However, his £100 million release clause might deter their interest. Lastly, Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong has emerged as a long-term target for Manchester United. Given Barcelona’s financial struggles, he could also attract Guardiola’s interest.

Another unconventional choice might be Pierre Lees-Melou, who impressed at Brest and received recognition for his defensive skills in Ligue 1.