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Manchester City have lost Rodri to injury, prompting the need for a new signing
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Manchester City are ready to bring in a new defensive midfielder to save their season. The champions haven't won in the last seven games. Pep Guardiola – ranked at no. 5 in Four Four Two's list of the greatest managers ever – has never gone this long without a win in his career. And Sunday's defeat to Liverpool has highlighted how important a new holding midfielder is, in the absence of Rodri, with the Sky Blues set to enter the market this winter. 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, ranked as the best player on Earth right now by Four Four Two, has been a huge miss for Manchester City. Pep Guardiola has been unable to replace his talisman at No. 6, since Rodri suffered an ACL injury in September, using Mateo Kovacic most often in the role. But with the Croatian now injured, too, and Ilkay Gundogan looking a shadow of his former self, the need for a new midfielder has perhaps never been greater. In Italy, Milan Live. it have reported on Manchester City pursuing Italian midfielder Samuele Ricci, just days after Calciomercato wrote about the interest from the Premier League champions. Guardiola's side are said to be preparing a ”maxi offer” for the 23-year-old with Milan sniffing, too, with Torino struggling to keep the star from the clutches of bigger clubs. The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. A €35 million offer should be enough to do business and blow Milan out of the race, reportedly – with Ricci having just 18 months left on his contract with Il Toro. Four Four Two understands that City could look to tie up another midfielder next month, as they're in the market to sign a player who can play with Rodri, too, as they eye a return for the Euro 2024 winner. A superb tempo-controller and secure option in possession, Ricci is comparable to Jorginho – and Four Four Two believes that this is a deal that shouldn't be too difficult to complete, with City breaking their record for transfer income earlier this season and having the financial muscle to make this deal, and potentially another next month. Ricci is worth €28m, according to Transfermarkt. City take on Nottingham Forest this week when Premier League action returns. Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at Four Four Two. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer. Is Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez injured? Premier League injury update Is Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke injured? Premier League injury update 'My biggest concern for Manchester City is with the midfield. We got away with it last season': Noel Gallagher says City are too reliant on one star Four Four Two is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. ©
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