Rodri’s injury is a major concern, here are three players I’d love Man City to sign as a back-up
Rodri has suffered yet another injury setback at Man City, leaving supporters concerned for their star midfielder.
Pep Guardiola lost Omar Marmoush earlier in the campaign, but with Erling Haaland rarely skipping a beat, the Citizens find themselves second in the Premier League table.
Nico Gonzalez has stepped up immensely in the middle of the park, even scoring as Man City ripped Liverpool apart in a 3-0 win at the Etihad, but Guardiola has rarely had a full squad at his disposal.
Joined by Mateo Kovacic, Rodri has been sidelined since the beginning of November, having missed several weeks before the Bournemouth game, and the Spaniard is still not ready to return.
With Guardiola confirming that, while the player has made good strides towards another return from injury, he is not yet ready, these are three players I’d love for Man City to target in January.
Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
Arsenal have previously been interested in Joshua Kimmich, and it is no surprise at all, given how crucial he is to Bayern Munich‘s team in the Bundesliga and across Europe.
Having put pen to paper on a new deal back in March, it would take a lot of money to prize him away from the Allianz Arena, but he would certainly make a difference in the Premier League title race.
Able to feature anywhere in midfield, or even at full-back when called upon, the 30-year-old has previous experience playing for Guardiola, and may want to reunite before the end of either of their careers.
Ederson (Atalanta)
Heavily linked with a move to the Premier League, Atalanta’s Ederson could present as the perfect opportunity to find an understudy for Rodri as he continues to struggle for full fitness.
The 26-year-old has under two years left on his current contract with the Italian giants, but having never played for what many would class as a “major European side”, he could be tempted.
Last season, the Brazilian was one of the fiercest midfielders in Italy, and while he has dropped off a little this season, he remains an important part of the Atalanta team due to his pinpoint passing.
Morten Hjulmand (Sporting CP)
I know many Man City fans would love the idea of stealing Morten Hjulmand away from Man United, with Ruben Amorim linked with a reunion with the midfielder ever since his arrival at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old has been incredibly impressive, not just over in Portugal, but also in the Champions League and with the Denmark national team. He could certainly be a risky signing, though.
He absolutely loves picking up yellow cards, almost like confetti, and that is not something City can afford, given their dominance on the ball and the danger of counterattacks.
Nonetheless, he is a player I’d love to see at the Etihad should Rodri continue to have problems with keeping fully fit. It would be a massive shame, but he has barely featured this season.