Manchester City receive major boost as potential Rodri replacement open to January transfer – Liverpool previously rejected | OneFootball

Officials at Manchester City may have seen the emergence of a potential transfer opportunity for the upcoming January transfer window, according to reports.

Txiki Begiristain and those within the Etihad Stadium focussing on recruitment plans for the coming markets are continuing to weigh up whether they feel it is necessary to sign players during the January window.

That dilemma has been heightened by Manchester City’s ongoing fitness, injury, and fatigue problems in recent weeks, adding to long-term problems sustained by Rodri and Oscar Bobb earlier in the season.

Some supporters feel as though the performances put out by the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan have indicated that there is a clear need for defensive midfield reinforcement, and that has led to media reports pointing towards a number of names in Europe.

It remains to be seen whether any of City’s targets in the deep midfield role will become available in the coming weeks, however a new report has suggested one of the most prominent names within the midfield position may be open to the idea of a mid-season switch.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, Real Sociedad and Spain international midfielder Martin Zubimendi and his team of representatives are open to a move in the upcoming January market, if the right opportunity presents itself.

The report points out that Liverpool had been previously rejected by Zubimendi over a potential transfer during the previous summer window, whilst the 25-year-old is said to be ‘extremely close’ to Manchester City’s Rodri.

The 25-year-old opted to stay with his existing Spanish club rather than join Arne Slot’s project when approached with the possibility during the last summer market, despite having previously indicated a desire to seek a new opportunity in the game.

Amid interest from Anfield officials, it was widely reported last August that La Liga side Real Sociedad tried to persuade the Spain international – who excelled at the last European Championships – to change his mind and, ultimately, succeeded.

Additional options for Manchester City are likely to include Torino and Italy’s Samuele Ricci, whilst tenuous reports from Italian media have also suggested that the Premier League champions have been impressed by AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders in recent months.