Can Manchester City Replace Rodri with a Signing?
With Rodrigo Hernández confirmed to have torn his cruciate ligament, Pep Guardiola is already looking for solutions. "He’s irreplaceable," the manager admits, now tasked with finding a way to cover the Spaniard’s absence, which could last the entire season. Among the options are players like Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gündogan, and John Stones, while waiting for the winter transfer window to bring possible reinforcements.
One of the first alternatives is already in-house: Kalvin Phillips, signed in 2022 for 50 million euros. Currently on loan at Ipswich Town, his performance at Manchester City was disappointing, with only 31 appearances in a season and a half. However, the club could cut short his loan in January to try and recover some value from their investment.
Kalvin Phillips
City is no stranger to mid-season signings. In 2018-2019, after a series of defensive injuries, Guardiola paid 65 million for Aymeric Laporte. Now, despite their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League over 115 financial irregularities, the club posted a net profit of over 130 million from the last transfer window, which would allow them to strengthen the squad in the winter.
If the club looks for a midfielder with Rodri-like qualities, the options are limited. According to BeSoccer, the most similar players are Granit Xhaka, Hakan Calhanoglu, and Martín Zubimendi. Xhaka is ruled out due to his offensive style and past as Arsenal captain. Calhanoglu, essential at Inter, also doesn't seem like a viable option.
Granit Xhaka
Martín Zubimendi is the closest to Rodri in defensive stats, though his passing ability falls short. Despite this, the Basque player turned down an offer from Liverpool in the summer, renewing with Real Sociedad, making it difficult for Manchester City to lure him away in January.
Martín Zubimendi
Other options, like Aurélien Tchouaméni and André Onana, are out of reach due to their ties to Real Madrid and Aston Villa. Bruno Guimaraes, though defensively similar to Rodri, would be too expensive for City, and he plays for a direct rival in Newcastle.
Bruno Guimaraes
Finally, in Italy, players like Manuel Locatelli, Stanislav Lobotka, and Bryan Cristante could be considered, but their lack of Premier League experience and the need for immediate adaptation make them less attractive as short-term solutions.
