Pep Guardiola's extension could help Man City sign one of these Rodri replacements

The news that Pep Guardiola will indeed manage Manchester City for at least one more season is extremely well-timed for the club and its supporters.

City are struggling by their own lofty standards in 2024/25 so far, thanks largely to a slew of injuries, and perhaps also partially because of uncertainty over the future of the man who's delivered their greatest-ever spell in history, by a distance.

But the news that the Spaniard will be at the helm for, at the very least, a 10th campaign at the Etihad takes care of the latter and could have a strong knock-on effect for the former.

That's because the January transfer window is just six weeks away, and the knowledge that Guardiola is the man in charge for the foreseeable future will encourage a lot of potential signings to help solve the injury crisis.

At the top of that injury dilemma is the influential Rodri, 2024 Ballon d'Or winner whose presence has been sorely missed since a September ACL injury made it unlikely he'd play again this season.

On top of that, Rodri has been linked with a return to Spain with Real Madrid once he recovers. If that happened, Guardiola would absolutely want to have a player of similar style and comparable stature in place for his extension season.

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Here are some of the names linked with City in recent times that could well be carried over the proverbial finish line by the club, now the Guardiola question has well and truly been answered.

Martin Zubimendi, Real Sociedad

Rodri's replacement during Spain's successful Euro 2024 final against England could literally be his successor at City in one of the most telling absences the league champions have at the moment.

Zubimendi was close to heading to City's title rivals Liverpool in the summer when they moved to trigger his £51 million (approx. $64 million) release clause, only for the midfielder to decide to stay at Real Sociedad for the time being.

Would a move to England appeal more if it's Guardiola who comes knocking?

Ederson, Atalanta

One of the stars of the Serie A club's Europa League triumph is strong, has great conditioning and a world-class read on the game, making him another perfect solution to City's Rodri-less season and beyond.

The 25-year-old has a great upside and is reportedly available for around £35 million (approx. $44 million).

Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich

The versatile German already has a huge fan in Guardiola, who recruited him as a 20-year-old from RB Leipzig when he managed the Bavarians.

And Kimmich will currently be out of contract in the summer, meaning that January brings the freedom for City to approach him about the 2025/26 season and beyond — or even tempt Bayern with a cut-price fee for an immediate switch.

Samuele Ricci, Torino 

Perhaps the best deal for City in this position is the 23-year-old Italian already on the radar of many a top club.

Ricci has been quoted in the past as studying Rodri's playing style and reportedly is available for just £25 million (approx. $31 million) which in turn would make it easier for the Manchester club to make him a lucrative, long-term offer.

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