Pep Guardiola has requested Manchester City’s management to complete a deal in the 2025 winter transfer market, which some English media outlets have described as unusual. The Premier League champions are seeking a defensive midfielder to fill the void left by the injury of their key Spanish player, Rodri Hernandez.
Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament tear at the start of the 2024-2025 season, prompting Guardiola to search for a replacement with similar attributes. Despite the challenge, Guardiola is hopeful about finding a suitable player.
Guardiola Wants Lazio’s Niccolo Rovella to Replace Rodri
According to the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero, Guardiola has specifically asked for Lazio’s Niccolo Rovella to step into the Manchester City midfield for the remainder of the season. Rovella, 23, made his international debut for Italy in November 2024 and is currently on loan at Lazio from Juventus, with a mandatory purchase clause set at €25 million.
The deal has raised some eyebrows in English media due to Rovella’s limited experience at top European clubs, with critics pointing to alternatives like Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich.
Guardiola Faces Challenges in Finding a Suitable Replacement
Guardiola has been unable to secure other defensive midfield targets to cover for Rodri’s absence, including Ilkay Gundogan, Mateo Kovacic, and Rico Lewis. This has created an urgent need for a new signing in the winter transfer window.
Despite the setback, Guardiola remains optimistic about Manchester City’s chances of defending their Premier League title. After a two-month slump, the team has recently secured two consecutive wins, most recently defeating Leicester City 2-0 and West Ham 4-1, bringing them within 12 points of league leaders Liverpool.
Manchester City Pursues Striker Omar Marmoush and Defensive Reinforcements
In addition to Rovella, Manchester City is also intensifying efforts to sign Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, reportedly offering €60 million to secure the forward immediately. The club is also considering signing a central defender following injuries to John Stones and Ruben Dias.
Upcoming Matches for Manchester City
Manchester City will host Salford City on Saturday, January 11, at the Etihad Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup. The Sky Blues have won the competition seven times, most recently in 2023. Following this, City will face two away games in the Premier League: against Brentford on January 14 and Ipswich Town on January 19.
