Manchester City midfield transfer target holds ‘reservations’ over Rodri role in significant blow | OneFootball

The potential of becoming an understudy to Rodri has caused concerns within one of Manchester City’s leading midfield transfer targets, according to reports.

Etihad Stadium officials are expected to begin work on a midfield revamp in Pep Guardiola’s squad as soon as January with further business set for the following summer transfer window, with cash reserves available to the Catalan coach.

The 53-year-old has seen his options in the centre of the park significantly restricted at various points of the ongoing season so far, playing a big role in Manchester City’s troubled form over the last 10 matches in particular.

Mateo Kovacic’s injury during the November international break left Guardiola with no defensive midfielders following Rodri’s season-long knee problems, and as such forced a tactical reshuffle that brought little to no success involving Ilkay Gundogan and Rico Lewis.

And Manchester City have been looking towards the January window as a clear opportunity to save their season to some extent through investment in the midfield roles, with a number of targets now having been outlined in a new report.

According to the information of The Telegraph, Atalanta’s Éderson has been ‘strongly discussed’ at Manchester City, although there is ‘little expectation’ of the Italian club being open to selling the Brazilian in January.

Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi is also mentioned within the same report, although it is claimed that the Spain international has ‘reservations’ about the prospect of playing the role of understudy to Rodri once he returns, and could wait until the summer to decide his future.

Elsewhere and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has also been cited in reports including that of the Telegraph’s update, and Manchester City continue to be linked with Bruno Guimaraes, with Newcastle yet to have had any contact from the Premier League champions over the player.

Finally, the report clarifies that with Kalvin Phillips currently out on loan at Ipswich Townt this season, there is no expectation of the England midfielder being brought back early despite ongoing problems in Pep Guardiola’s side.

Manchester City are unlikely to entertain any departures during the upcoming January market, particularly given the already-restricted numbers within their squad but that will not prevent clubs from eyeing their out-of-favour stars.

One of those names is James McAtee, who was retained by Pep Guardiola during the summer transfer window following back-to-back loan spells with Sheffield United, but has seen very few opportunities handed his way to impress despite the club’s poor form this season.

Whilst McAtee was accepting of reduced game time when speaking to the media over the summer months, there is now a feeling in some quarters that Premier League interest from the likes of Crystal Palace and Fulham could see him target an Etihad Stadium exit.