Pep Guardiola could look to recruit in January, and a journalist has dropped some huge news about two potential transfers.
Guardiola, 53, will be hoping his Manchester City side can get back to winning ways when they face Aston Villa at Villa Park on Saturday lunchtime.
However, it was confirmed yesterday that he will be without five key players for the trip to Birmingham.
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One of which is Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who has been sidelined since injuring his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal in September.
His absence has coincided with a torrid run of results for the Premier League champions – they have picked up just one win in their last 11 fixtures in all competitions, which has seen them drop to fifth in the top flight ahead of game week 17.
Of course, replacing Rodri has proven tough. Guardiola has tried several players, such as Mateo Kovacic, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis and Ilkay Gundogan, in the ‘six’ position, but none have been able to successfully fill the void.
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As a result, January could provide an opportunity to bring in a short-term fix to help the current situation.
On Saturday morning, The Athletic’s Sam Lee gave an update on two transfer targets.
“At the risk of causing a meltdown before I go, City sources are indicating that neither Bruno Guimaraes or Martin Zubimendi are targets for January,” he wrote on X.
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Guimaraes, 27, currently of Newcastle United, has been linked with City, with Lee previously explaining how a fee of €80m (£66m) could be enough to tempt Newcastle to sell.
But his latest report suggests this is now unlikely.
Zubimendi, 25, was previously the subject of interest from Liverpool but chose to remain at Real Sociedad last summer.
Fans were not best pleased with the news and gave their thoughts in the comments section.
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One said: “I legit believe Pep wants to win the Europa League next season.”
A second added: “Kalvin Phillips back then.”
While a third commented: I am never surprised.”
A fourth exclaimed: “Bruno is Newcastle's club captain. And Zubimendi changed his mind on Liverpool at the last minute. We all knew deep down it wouldn't happen.”
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Guardiola previously explained how signing players in January is "not easy to do".
“We spoke and we talk, in winter if we are going to do something it is because we really need it or we believe we can find something,” said the City boss.
“Not just for four or five months but exceptional things for the next three or four (years).
“In winter it is more difficult to do but we will see. I don’t know how many times in the last years we signed someone in the winter."
Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Transfer News, Premier League, Newcastle United, Real Sociedad
Luke Davies