Man City told to complete midfield signing after source's reveal - 'Take note Kalvin Phillips', says pundit

Man City must recruit a partner for Rodri in midfield and get a deal done in January.

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, former Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson claimed this position needs to be filled as Pep Guardiola's defence frequently moves into the midfield.

As revealed by Football Insider (26 November), the Citizens have a strong interest in re-signing Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz who is shortlisted alongside Al-Hilal's Ruben Neves.

The likes of John Stones and Manuel Akanji often drift forward into the defensive midfield position amid a lack of options including Kalvin Phillips who has fallen out of favour at the Etihad.

Robinson feels recruitment is key so these players can remain in their preferred positions.

"Kalvin Phillips is obviously not what the manager thought," he told Football Insider.

"So you look at the Man City team, in defensive midfield it's just Rodri and another, normally Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Nathan Ake and maybe sometimes Kyle Walker.

"None of them are defensive midfielders. So when City want to play a little more defensively they play Stones in there in an inverted role.

"When players like that are playing ahead of you, if you're Phillips you take note that you need to move on.

"But there is a position there to be filled. It's not quite square pegs in round holes, but these players are not playing in their natural position.

"Rodri plays if he's 80 per cent fit, 90 per cent fit.

"They're a different team without him, he's the lynchpin. But the position next to him hasn't been taken.

"Whether Douglas Luiz is the answer to that, I don't know, but it's the only position they can strengthen in that squad and they need to strengthen."

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