Manchester City are reportedly interested in signing Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the January transfer window.
The Sky Blues have not been the same since Rodri suffered a long-term knee injury in September. After losing 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, Pep Guardiola is now enduring his worst run to date at the club. He has overseen a recent run of four consecutive defeats at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions, leaving them five points adrift of leaders Liverpool in the Premier League.
According to a report from the Daily Mirror, Manchester City are considering making a £50m offer for Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi to replace the injured Rodri.
Zubimendi, 25, was high on new Liverpool boss Arne Slot’s summer wishlist and was close to sealing a deal before a U-turn meant he stayed put. Six months after he rejected a move to Anfield, the deep-lying playmaker has emerged as a target for Man City.
Martin Zubimendi to Manchester City – The ideal alternative to Rodri?
‘Irreplaceable’ was the word Guardiola used when Rodri suffered a serious knee injury which ruled him out for the remainder of the 2024/25 season. While the Sky Blues have Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic in their ranks, no one comes close to essaying the role Rodri has been doing season after season.
Zubimendi has emerged as a target for Manchester City, as Guardiola looks to find a solution to fix his team’s midfield conundrum. Regarded as one of the finest central midfielders in Europe, the Spaniard has made over 200 senior appearances for Real Sociedad after rising through their youth ranks.
Man City ready to splash £50m in January to sign Martin Zubimendi 💰
The Spain star, who rejected Liverpool in the summer, is considered the perfect replacement for the injured Rodri 👇https://t.co/nYIKkw1XfO pic.twitter.com/obAgJwQBLt
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) November 10, 2024
The 25-year-old can operate as a lone defensive midfielder in a possession-based side. Technically gifted and tactically versatile, Zubimendi, who was a part of the Spanish side that won the Euro 2024 in Germany, comes closer to filling the void in the City midfield left by Rodri thanks to his skill set. The pair have played together for Spain, giving the English champions the potential of an eye-catching midfield partnership when Rodri returns from injury in 2025.
The San Sebastian-born talent has a £50m release clause in his contract that runs until 2027, which City should not have problems triggering. However, the main sticking point would be to convince the Spanish international to leave his boyhood club midway through the season and move to the Premier League.
If the Etihad Stadium chiefs manage to do that, Zubimendi could be a player who stabilises the City ship and solves a lot of issues in their engine room that we have witnessed in Rodri’s absence.
