- Rodri picked up a serious knee ligament injury in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal
- The Premier League champions have reportedly identified a replacement
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Manchester City have been dealt a huge blow with Rodri picking up a serious knee injury, but according to reports in Spain the Premier League champions are set to go all out to sign a replacement in January.
Rodri has become arguably the world’s leading defensive midfielder and as such it is unlikely that any one player could adequately replicate what the Spanish star does for Pep Guardiola’s side.
However, according to Relevo, the Citizens are thought to be monitoring a deep-lying midfield player that has cropped up with increasing regularity on the transfer radars of Europe’s top clubs, with a view to a January bid.
After a summer of links to both Liverpool and Arsenal, Real Sociedad’s highly regarded midfielder Martin Zubimendi is now being considered by City to fill the void left by his absent international team-mate.
Despite reportedly backing out of a move to Anfield only a few months ago, Zubimendi is still yet to sign a new contract, and as such retains a release clause of around £50.3million (€60m).
Manchester City were dealt a serious blow after Rodri was ruled out for the season with a knee injury
Spain star Rodri has become the world’s leading defensive midfielder under Pep Guardiola
Martin Zubimendi has reportedly emerged as an option to replace his international team-mate at Man City
Zubimendi has developed into a stellar player, operating in the No 6 role at the base of midfield controlling the tempo of the game while also protecting the defence behind him.
While Man City are not exactly short of options in any position, Guardiola still appears to be unsure of how to form his midfield unit without the ever dependable Rodri.
Mateo Kovacic – who scored twice at the weekend – has lined up alongside Ilkay Gundogan, Matheus Nunes and Rico Lewis so far this season, with the boss seemingly yet to find his favoured duo.
City may be the best team in the world, or at least in the top two, but signing Zubimendi would not be so simple as signing a cheque.
The player has already shown an unwillingness to move at this point in time, as evidenced by the collapsed move to Liverpool, and negotiating any deal in the middle of the season has its own additional hurdles.
‘It’s true that it wasn’t an easy few days, but I’m very happy with the decision I made, which was from within,’ the player had said after pulling out of a deal to join Liverpool.
‘I think I’ve made peace with it, because I thought it was the best thing to do.’
Zubimendi clearly then does not sound like a player itching to leave the club, although the draw of Man City is perhaps second only to Real Madrid, in terms of what they could offer any prospective player.
Zubimendi has cropped up on the radars of Europe’s elite clubs with increasing regularity
He pulled out of a move to Liverpool last summer and is thought to be happy to stay at Real Sociedad
The midfielder was part of the Spain side that beat England to the European Championship title this summer
The 25-year-old would provide Guardiola’s side with security beyond the departure of Rodri, whose contract runs out in 2027 and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Zubimendi has already played 198 games for Sociedad, and his contract also runs out in 2027.
As a result of his rise at his boyhood club, Zubimendi was called up to the Spain side that won the European Championship this summer, beating England 2-1 in the final.
To date, the midfielder has won 12 caps for Luis De la Fuente’s side, and could go on to become a key stalwart in the centre of the park for La Roja for the next decade.
