Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is still trying to work out how best to cover the injury absence of Rodri.
In recent weeks, City have really struggled in games without their Spanish general patrolling the midfield.
Prior to the win over Nottingham Forest, City had gone seven games without a win across all competitions, and the team have just been held by Crystal Palace.
What has been apparent is that City are very weak defensively right now, and are especially vulnerable when out of possession.
Teams don’t seem to fear City as much without Rodri in the team, and Guardiola will surely be looking to do something about the situation in the January transfer window.
One player City could make a move for is Martin Zubimendi – and one statistic has emerged to suggest he’d be the perfect addition right now.
Man City target Martin Zubimendi is La Liga’s best ball-winner
Rodri has reportedly advised Man City to actually go and sign Zubimendi, whom he knows well from the national team.
And it seems Zubimendi could actually be a very strong addition if City did make a player for the Real Sociedad star in January.
City have conceded the second-most big chances since Rodri’s injury on September 22, but there’s one aspect of Zubimendi’s game that could help City to really improve in this area; and that’s his ball-winning ability.
According to WhoScored, Zubimendi is actually the best ball-winner in La Liga at the moment.
The 25-year-old has won possession in the midfield third of the pitch 51 times so far this season – no player has made more recoveries than that.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Zubimendi should be Man City’s number one target
This stat alone about Zubimendi has to place City on red alert.
The fact he is a brilliant ball-winner simply has to place him somewhere near the top of the club’s wishlist this January, because we have been seeing such vulnerability in the defence and the midfield this season.
Teams have been running riot in the absence of Rodri, but having Zubimendi in that holding role will hand Guardiola the thing he craves the most; control.
| Martin Zubimendi for Real Sociedad (2020-present) |
| Appearances – 209 |
| Goals – 9 |
| Assists – 9 |
Zubimendi is a great ball-winner, but he also dictates the tempo of games really well from those deep midfield positions.
He has a great understanding of the position and likely won’t over-commit and leave space.
Hopefully, we’ll see City make a move for Zubimendi, who is thought to have a release clause of around £51 million.
