Lazio midfielder emerges as new potential Manchester City transfer target as Rodri replacement search continues

Manchester City’s hunt for a replacement for Rodri in the centre of their midfield has now taken them to the Italian game and Lazio, according to a new report.

The injury to the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has left manager Pep Guardiola scrambling for solutions as a matter of urgency this season, trialling all of the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Rico Lewis, and Josko Gvardiol in the role on various occasions.

There is a belief in some quarters that if Guardiola had his entire squad available, his go-to solution would be a double-pivot of Manuel Akanji and John Stones but injury and fitness complications with the pair have made that impossible.

As such, Manchester City are willing to turn to the January transfer window for a new profile to come into the squad and aid the midfield options, with a number of names having already been mooted throughout the press.

The Premier League champions have been quick to deny any interest in Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes or Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi this month, while they retain admiration for Atalanta’s Ederson despite a belief that a deal could be difficult to agree.

Now, according to the information of Il Messaggero and relayed by La Lazio Siamo Noi, Manchester City have enquired about Nicolo Rovella, currently on loan at Lazio from fellow Serie A side Juventus in a deal that includes a conditional obligation to buy.

It is claimed that the Premier League champions consider the 23-year-old a suitable profile for the central midfield role, and as such are willing to spend €40 million in order to lure the Italy international to England.

However, the report claims that Rovella has already reiterated his desire to stay at the Italian capital side ‘forever’, and as such would be likely to reject advances from Manchester City despite the lure of the recent UEFA Champions League winners.

Manager Pep Guardiola has often insisted upon his belief that Manchester City would be interested in recruiting during the January window, but has told supporters to remain patient amid the known difficulties of trying to do top-level business in the middle of a season.

Speaking during a press conference, Guardiola explained, “The most important is injuries and players fit; this is what I’m looking for. After that, the [transfer] market and one can come and play, he will help and we need players in different positions, because we had a lot of injuries.

“And these injuries are again, and again, and again. And that’s why we have to take a look. But the market is not easy, and right now I’m thinking I don’t know what is going to happen.”

While there is plenty of conversation about Manchester City’s interest in Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Omar Marmoush, it remains to be seen whether any concrete progress has been made on the central midfield role.