Who could Man City sign to replace injured Rodri?

Pep Guardiola has a problem.

The Manchester City head says midfielder Rodri is going to beryllium retired "for a agelong time" pinch nan knee ligament harm he suffered successful Sunday's 2-2 tie pinch Arsenal.

How agelong precisely he will beryllium missing for remains unknown, pinch City saying further tests are needed for an nonstop prognosis connected his correct knee.

But nan City leader needs a solution, because Rodri's power astatine nan nine is immense.

City person mislaid conscionable 11% of their games pinch him successful nan broadside compared to 24% without him since his debut successful 2019.

The solution for nan adjacent fewer months will person to beryllium recovered internally, pinch nan likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones and Rico Lewis imaginable alternatives successful nan protect midfield role, but should his absence agelong into 2025, Guardiola could beryllium tempted to look externally travel January.

Recalling Kalvin Phillips from a indebtedness spell astatine Ipswich erstwhile nan transportation model opens is 1 option, but who other could Guardiola motion to switch his often-dubbed 'irreplaceable' midfielder?

When looking astatine a number of metrics from past season, information supplier Opta recovered Arsenal's Declan Rice and Real Madrid's Federico Valverde were among nan midfielders astir akin to Rodri from Europe's apical leagues.

But, pinch these 2 surely not available, what different options are there?

(The statistic successful nan schematic beneath successful each of nan metrics are averages per match)

With nan objection of Declan Rice, whose signature City were beaten to by Arsenal, Bayern Munich's Goretzka is nan subordinate Opta recovered to beryllium astir akin to Rodri.

The 29-year-old midfielder is presently retired of favour astatine nan Bundesliga nine but has been 1 of their astir accordant performers since signing successful 2018.

When comparing respective metrics from past season, Opta recovered nan Germany midfielder to beryllium astir for illustration Rodri successful possession and pinch his attacking threat, though he didn't comparison arsenic favourably defensively.

Not an orthodox protect midfielder, Goretzka is astir effective arsenic a box-to-box midfielder because of his energetic pressing.

How do you switch Rodri? One reply is to do what Spain did successful nan summer.

When nan Spanish midfielder was taken disconnected astatine half-time successful nan Euro 2024 last against England, galore Three Lions fans expected their opponents to beryllium severely weakened.

Step guardant Zubimendi. The Real Sociedad 25-year-old came connected and controlled nan midfield - for illustration Rodri had been doing - arsenic Spain went connected to assistance nan trophy.

Liverpool tried to motion nan subordinate successful nan summer, aft being told he wanted to time off his boyhood club, but were yet unsuccessful arsenic Sociedad persuaded Zubimendi to stay.

Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Arsenal are each reported to person shown liking successful nan past and it would beryllium nary astonishment to spot Guardiola make his move travel January.

It has been reported successful Spain he has a £51.5m merchandise clause and, contempt a mediocre commencement to nan La Liga play for Sociedad, City could good person plentifulness of competition.

However, while galore see Zubimendi to beryllium nan evident solution, erstwhile comparing a number of metrics pinch nan different players below, he doesn't travel retired apical successful immoderate category.

The 20-year-old has enjoyed a meteoric rise from Championship broadside Blackburn Rovers to go 1 of English football's astir highly rated youngsters.

Wharton has been utilised arsenic a protect midfielder for Crystal Palace but is besides tin of playing successful a much attacking role.

Out of nan six players listed here, Wharton's mean tackles per convention crippled (3.31) and mean interceptions (1.38) were nan 2nd highest, suggesting he could adhd nan solidity City will miss successful Rodri's absence.

Wharton, who was an unused personnel of England's Euro 2024 squad, was linked pinch nan likes of Bayern Munich and Manchester Utd successful nan summer, having only signed for nan Eagles successful January.

His signature would not beryllium inexpensive though, pinch young English talent ever commanding a premium price.

Newcastle's Brazil midfielder was linked pinch City successful nan summertime but it was reported a £100m merchandise clause put nan defending champions disconnected his signature.

With Rodri now out, could City beryllium tempted to renew immoderate interest, and much earnestly this time?

The 26-year-old hasn't been hugely awesome astatine nan commencement of this play but has been a large power astatine nan bosom of Newcastle's midfield since signing from Lyon successful 2022.

Guimaraes came retired 2nd successful position of convention duels won (7.88) erstwhile compared pinch nan different players successful this database - including Rodri - past season.

Newcastle would beryllium very reluctant to fto their midfielder spell though.

A semipermanent Man Utd target, could Man City beryllium tempted to rival their neighbours for his signature?

De Jong appears settled astatine Barcelona, but nan club's well-documented financial issues would propose astir of their players are disposable astatine nan correct price.

He has played arsenic a centre-back and protect midfielder but has been utilised successful a much imaginative domiciled often astatine Barca.

He has been retired of action since April pinch an ankle injury, albeit he is now backmost successful training, pinch a return day still unknown.

Perhaps nan astir improbable sanction of nan list.

The erstwhile Norwich midfielder has impressed since signing for Ligue 1 Brest successful 2022 and was named successful nan league's squad of nan play past clip round.

His steely protect displays helped Brest to 3rd successful Ligue 1 and a spot successful nan Champions League for nan first clip successful their history.

With truthful overmuch attacking and imaginative talent already successful his squad, should Guardiola want a much protect solution to Rodri, Lees-Melou could good beryllium his man.

The 31-year-old was recovered to beryllium nan 4th astir akin to Rodri by Opta and produced nan highest magnitude of interceptions successful Ligue 1 past season.

He besides classed higher than immoderate subordinate connected this database past play - including Rodri - successful position of tackles made, duals won, interceptions and possession won.