Pep Guardiola has been given the green light to pursue a move for January transfer target Martin Zubimendi to help salvage Manchester City’s season.
City’s woeful run of form continued on Wednesday night as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Juventus, leaving them in a real fight to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The defending Premier League champions have won just one of their last 10 games, suffering seven defeats in that run. Many of City’s problems have stemmed from the absence of Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury in the September showdown against Arsenal at the Etihad.
Mateo Kovacic also has missed the last six games, returning to the bench midweek.
With their season slipping away from them, ESPN report City are ready to back major moves in the January transfer window with a new midfielder a top priority.
Guardiola is a long-term admirer of Real Sociedad star Zubimendi, who was chased by Liverpool during the summer. The 25-year-old, who replaced the injured Rodri in the Euro 2024 final for Spain against England, turned down a move to Merseyside to remain in San Sebastian.
City made just two additions to their first-team squad in the summer, bringing in winger Savinho from Troyes with Ilkay Gundogan returning to the club on a free transfer from Barcelona.
Zubimendi signed a new contract with Real Sociedad in the summer and despite lingering speculation over his future, played down talk of a January move in November.
‘There will always be rumours and now that January is approaching, there will be too, but I don’t waste energy on outside noise,’ he told Estadio Deportivo.
‘I’m happy with the way I’m handling it and I’m going to handle it.’
Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimarães is another player on City’s radar.
City’s woeful form has left them eight points off Premier League leaders Liverpool who also have a game in hand after last Saturday’s Merseyside derby was postponed.
They host United in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
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