Manchester City eye Real Madrid attacker as winter transfer plans laid out

“We have to try to sign players in January,” Pep Guardiola stated before the Boxing Day match against Everton. His words echo sentiments from weeks earlier, when he expressed a preference for a larger squad. Now, with the winter transfer window open, those concerns have taken on greater urgency.

“We have talked about making moves—not just for four or five months. In winter, it’s always more challenging. I don’t know how many times we’ve relied on the winter transfer market—maybe just for Aymeric Laporte seven years ago. We’re not typically in favour of it, but the circumstances this season are exceptional,” Guardiola explained.

Manchester City’s inconsistent form has made signing new players an almost unavoidable necessity. Rodri’s long-term injury has severely disrupted the Premier League champions’ plans, impacting their play far more than expected.

Without Rodri, the summer sale of Julián Álvarez has further weakened the team’s goalscoring capability. These issues, compounded by a wave of injuries—including Oscar Bobb, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Rúben Dias, Nathan Aké, Manuel Akanji, and Ederson—have left City’s squad stretched thin. Addressing these challenges in the winter transfer market has become a priority.

Adding to the urgency is the looming possibility of sanctions over alleged financial rule violations, which could potentially include transfer bans in future windows. With over 115 alleged infractions, Manchester City may feel pressured to act decisively before any penalties take effect.

Midfield reinforcements a top priority

City’s immediate focus is on shoring up their midfield, with three players topping their wish-list:

• Martín Zubimendi (25, Real Sociedad): Seen as a natural replacement for Rodri, Zubimendi’s transfer fee poses a significant hurdle.
• Bruno Guimarães (27, Newcastle): Another highly-rated option, the Brazilian would command a fee around $60 million–$80 million, similar to Zubimendi.
• Samuele Ricci (22, Torino): A promising, more affordable alternative, Ricci offers potential for the future but lacks the experience of the other two.

Despite spending just $25 million in the summer on Savinho, City’s financial resources should accommodate such investments. However, the situation is so dire that even Paul Pogba (31), currently serving a doping ban until March 10, has been linked with the club—a move that seems unlikely but underscores the team’s desperation.

Need for attackers and full-backs

Guardiola’s concerns extend beyond midfield. Full-backs and attacking players are also high on the agenda.

• Full-backs: American Antonee Robinson (27, Fulham) has been in excellent form and is a strong candidate. A return for Jeremy Frimpong (24, Bayer Leverkusen), a former City youth player, has also been rumored.
• Attackers: Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze (26) and West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (28) are potential targets. Additionally, the possibility of recalling Liam Delap (21) to the squad has been suggested.

Summer priorities and future planning

While the January window is crucial, City are also eyeing summer signings to rejuvenate their squad. Three players reportedly on their radar are:

• Rodrygo (23, Real Madrid)
• Nico Williams (22, Athletic Club)
• Unai Simón (27, Athletic Club)

These LaLiga players would provide a significant boost in quality and inject youth into the team. However, all transfer plans hinge on the outcome of the financial fair play case, which could impose severe restrictions on future spending.

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For now, Manchester City face a pivotal January window, with the pressure mounting to resolve their injury crisis and maintain their competitive edge in the Premier League and beyond.

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