Manchester Metropolis’s worst fears have been confirmed this week, when scans revealed that midfielder Rodri suffered a severe knee harm in final weekend’s 2-2 draw in opposition to Arsenal.
The Spanish star went down after tussling with Thomas Celebration throughout the first half of the conflict between the 2 title contenders and needed to be withdrawn. With Kalvin Phillips unable to be recalled , a alternative might should be sourced.
“When the staff does not play with the perfect midfielder on this planet, for an extended, very long time, it’s a massive blow,” Guardiola mentioned forward of his facet’s midweek win over Watford. “Rodri is irreplaceable.”
Manchester Metropolis determine Rodri alternative
Pep Guardiola has vowed to discover a alternative for Rodri (Picture credit score: Alamy)
However as Metropolis put together for all times with out considered one of their most essential gamers, Guardiola added that it was his job to discover a resolution.
“In soccer it occurs and my responsibility is to discover a resolution to be aggressive and proceed to be an issue for our opponents. I’ll discover a resolution. We are going to do it.”
Hakan Calhanoglu in motion for Turkey at Euro 2024 (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
In accordance with a report in Italy, one resolution that the membership are weighing up is to usher in a brand new participant when the switch window opens in January.
InterLive claims that Pep Guardiola is ‘able to steal’ Hakan Calhanoglu from Serie A champions Inter Milan, with the participant himself mentioned to be ‘tempted’ by a transfer to the Premier League facet.
Guardiola received a first-hand have a look at the Turkey worldwide in motion earlier this month, when Inter boss Simone Inzaghi deployed the 30-year-old in central midfield for his facet’s goalless Champions League opener in opposition to Metropolis.
The report provides that Metropolis are keen to make a €50 miliion bid for Calhanoglu, who been an everyday in Rodri’s defensive midfield place since he joined Inter from native rivals AC Milan on a free switch in 2021.
VIDEO The ONLY Approach Man Metropolis Can Survive With out Rodri
Calhanoglu has 92 caps for Turkey and was part of their Euro 2024 squad that reached the quarter-finals in Germany this summer time. FourFourTwo ranked him because the eighth-best defensive midfielder on this planet
In FourFourTw o’s opinion, spending €50m on a 30-year-old midfielder that has by no means performed within the Premier League and is valued at €45million by Transfermarkt wreaks of “panic purchase”.
Mateo Kovacic is Rodri’s precept backup (Picture credit score: Getty Photos)
It could be unrealistic to anticipate Calhanoglu to immediately adapt to Guardiola’s exacting strategies and play a big half within the second half of the season, and what’s extra, it isn’t the supervisor’s type.
Mateo Kovacic is within the driving seat to switch Rodri, however do not rule out Pep shocking us with a curveball choice corresponding to Rico Lewis, Bernardo Silva or John Stones in a brand new function.
